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CNN Sunday Morning

James Holmes to Appear in Court Tomorrow; Fierce Fighting in Syria's Capital; Penn State to Move Paterno Statue

Aired July 22, 2012 - 07:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: If you're just waking up this morning, let's catch you up on what's happening here in Aurora, Colorado. Overnight, we found out that police interviewed an associate of suspected gunman James Holmes. A spokeswoman says the person is not a suspect, and there's no reason to believe that he was involved.

Also, police now say that they've removed all the booby traps from James Holmes' apartment and performed a controlled detonation of some of the explosives. Others were burned. Many residents who were evacuated were allowed to return home.

Police say the evidence shows Holmes may have been planning the attack for months. And he wanted to kill or hurt anyone looking for information about him in the aftermath of the attack.

We now know the names of al 12 people killed in the tragic shooting. Many were under 30 years old. The youngest victim just 6.

Police say the theater where the shooting took place will remain closed until at least Wednesday. That gives them time to complete their investigation. Holmes' defense team will get access by Tuesday.

Today is an important day for people here in Aurora, Colorado. President Obama is headed here this afternoon to meet with the victims' families.

Jim Spellman is near the complex where James Holmes lives.

Jim, what do we know it the president's visit and his agenda today?

JIM SPELLMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: The president will arrive later this afternoon. We expect him to meet with the families of the victims and perhaps some of the wounded and local leaders here. That comes before the vigil later in the evening. The president not expected to speak at the vigil. He'll depart and head to San Francisco early in the evening -- Randi.

KAYE: And as far as tomorrow, what can we expect from this arraignment? The suspected gunman is going to be in court for his first hearing. Any news on what to expect from that?

SPELLMAN: Well, the court documents are sealed at this point. So we don't have a lot of insight. We haven't heard publicly what exactly is going to happen at this hearing. They could potentially charge him. If not, they'll have to deal with detaining him. Perhaps some sort of bond hearing.

But it will be our first chance to get a look at him up close. We should know a lot more about how the state -- how the state of Colorado will proceed with their case against James Holmes after that hearing tomorrow morning, Randi.

And yesterday, they spent hours trying to get inside the apartment. They eventually did. Police have been gathering the evidence there. We're hearing new details also, Jim, about exactly these booby traps were. What did they find?

SPELLMAN: Well, we know that there was at least one trip wire set up at the front door. The police chief here in Aurora described it as designed to kill the first person who went into that -- into that door. Then there were many more in there. Some of them described as being similar to -- to fireworks with golf ball-sized diameters that would shoot off, some are described as incendiary devices that would have caused fire. It took them the better part of two days to render this apartment safe. Unbelievably complex web of these -- IEDs improvised incendiary devices. Now, they'll have a chance to really dig in and try to use evidence that they find in there, to try to advance the case -- Randi.

KAYE: Yes. I know they were very -- they were certainly careful about trying to keep some of that and not detonate everything there so they would have evidence left.

Jim Spellman, thank you very much.

The attack has left many wondering if it is time to beef up security at movie theaters. In New York, some cinemas are doing exactly that. CNN's Mary Snow also shows us how one made big changes well before Friday's massacre.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

SNOW (voice-over): Police vehicles are now posted outside New York City theaters showing "The Dark Knight Rises". The NYPD says it is not responding to any specific threat rather hoping to prevent any copycats.

COMMISSIONER RAY KELLY, NEW YORK POLICE: We are just concerned that someone perhaps seeking notoriety will attempt to do something similar. We always hear that when a high-profile event happens. So we're doing this to sort of raise the comfort level of people who are going to the movies.

SNOW: At one multiplex theater outside New York City, security goes far beyond comfort level. It's been using metal detectors for more than two decades.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I think it's more of an inconvenience actually going through the metal detectors. But after what happened yesterday, I do feel more safe. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I actually feel safer you know coming to movie theaters knowing that there's a metal detector, you know, feel more safe.

SNOW: The detectors were installed in 1990 after gunfire broke out during an argument on the opening night of "The Godfather III". At the time, one person was killed and three people injured. The Valley Stream theater, according to a security consultant who worked on the security plan, was one of the first movie theaters in the country to install the detectors. He says certain factors were considered.

ALAN SKLAR, CREATIVE SERVICES, INC.: We look at crime statistics in and around the area to see what type of crimes have occurred. Is it a high crime area? Does it justify certain level of technology or, you know, additional measures that might not be needed in another area?

SNOW: In the mass shootings in Aurora, authorities say the gunman entered through a fire exit.

Former FBI assistant director and CNN contributor, Tom Fuentes.

TOM FUENTES, FORMER FBI ASSISTANT DIR.: The case of a metal detector would have done no good because this person -- you're not talking about someone who brought weapons in through the front of the theater, through the ticket taker entrance or any of that.

SNOW: Individual movie chains declined to discuss specific security measures but their umbrella group, the National Association of Theater Owners, said in a statement: "Members are working closely with local law enforcement agencies and reviewing security procedures."

(on camera): The National Association of Theater Owners says it doesn't have a number of how many theaters in the U.S. use metal detectors. One immediate change in security, though, here at AMC theaters is that movie-goers will not be allowed in the theater wearing costumes or masks.

Mary Snow, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: We'll have much more from Aurora. Let's go to our headquarters back in Atlanta where Jennifer Westhoven has a look at other stories making headlines.

Good morning again, Jennifer.

JENNIFER WESTHOVEN, CNN ANCHOR: Good morning. Thank you, Randi.

When we come back, we'll look at how Norway is memorializing its own victims a year after a deadly attack.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK) WESTHOVEN: We're going to take you back to Aurora, Colorado, and Randi Kaye for the latest. But, first, the latest international headlines.

Media baron Rupert Murdoch is stepping down from the boards of dozens of companies, including his own media empire, News Corp. The company says the move is part of its previous plan to separate publishing from film and television after the phone-hacking scandal at its "News of the World" tabloid which, of course, since has been shut down.

In Bulgaria, police are looking for possibly a second suspect in the deadly bus bombing outside the Burgas airport last week. Investigators previously released security video of a man they had believed acted alone. But now, they are taking a police sketch of another man compiled from eyewitness descriptions to area hotels. Five Israeli tourists and their Bulgarian bus driver were killed in Wednesday's attack.

Today, Norway is remembering its worst day since World War II that left 77 people dead. It was a year ago today that Anders Behring Breivik bombed a government building in Oslo, then headed to an island summer camp. He opened fire, leaving 69 teenagers dead. Nationwide events to mark the solemn day include a wreath-laying and a moment of silence at the time the bomb was detonated in Oslo.

This morning, we are following a mystery surrounding the Jackson family, and the question we're asking is: is Katherine Jackson okay? This is after conflicting reports over her whereabouts. We're going to have more.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WESTHOVEN: All right. Let's take you to Syria now, where that country's main commercial and industrial hub, its largest city Aleppo, is now the scene of heavy fighting. Syrian military forces are launching an all-out attack on opposition strongholds there.

In the capital of Damascus, the opposition says helicopter gunships bombarded several districts in an effort to drive out rebels. Meanwhile, Syrian refugees are fleeing across the border, running for their lives to try and escape the violence. At last count, the number stood at 120,000 people.

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom joins us now from Abu Dhabi.

Mohammed, you were telling us that among all those tens of thousands of civilians, two more army generals are also joining that exodus, fleeing to neighboring Turkey. And that tells us that there are more than 20 military officials now who have defected from the army. Is it a sign of a power shift there, that the Syrian regime may be crumbling?

MOHAMMED JAMJOOM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, it certainly looks to be, Jennifer. Over the last couple of weeks, you've not just seen regular rank and file members of the army there defecting, continuing to defect to the opposition and joining the rebel Free Syrian Army.

You also saw a little over a week and a half ago the defection of the most senior general, a brigadier general who fled the country. Beyond that you've also seen diplomatic defections. The former ambassador to Iraq, he left as well. That taken in with the fact that there's fighting in Damascus, that now there's fighting in Aleppo, the commercial hub of Syria.

This is really putting cracks into this idea that the Syrian regime is invulnerable. A lot of questions right now as to just how tenuous the grip that Bashar al Assad has on power still remains. And also, one other thing -- last week, you had an explosion in Damascus that killed four of the top Syrian officials, members of the inner circle of Bashar al Assad.

So, all those signs put together, people asking just how much power does Bashar al Assad still hold in that country -- Jennifer.

WESTHOVEN: Speaking of Damascus, we're getting conflicting reports, too, about what exactly is happening there. Can you tell us what you know about the fighting there?

JAMJOOM: It's very interesting. You know, oftentimes we see in the Syrian conflict, you know, we hear from opposition activists because we're not able to report from inside Syria, the Syrian government will not give us visas. But we have reports today of fierce fighting in the capital. Several days that intense fighting has been going on. There's one neighborhood in particular, Albar (ph), the opposition activists telling us it's been shelling by helicopter. There are heavy casualties.

But the Syrian regime for its part on state television, they were saying that although the Syrian regime was going after armed terrorist groups in the capital, that life was normal in the capital. In fact, we even saw at one point they put up pictures of the round-about neighborhood of the capital as if to say everything is fine. They just cut into soap operas that run during the holy month of Ramadan as if to announce to the world everything is fine in the capital. We've gotten things under control.

But it's worrying for the regime that the fighting in the capital has been as intense as it has been these past several days -- Jennifer.

WESTHOVEN: And how about in Aleppo and reports of violence there? I mean, that's the city that for the most part had escaped a lot of the violence before.

JAMJOOM: That's right. We've seen signs in the last few months that maybe the city wasn't as much of a stronghold for the al-Assad regime as it used to be. It started in March when there started being university demonstrations, anti-regime demonstrations. This is the commercial hub of Syria, Aleppo, not just one of the largest cities, but it is the economic lifeline for the Bashar al-Assad regime.

And many people, since the beginning of this uprising, speculated and said if Aleppo goes, there goes Bashar al-Assad regime. They just can't hold on to power without the support of the commercial powerhouse of that country.

But today, we're getting reports that the Free Syrian Army has changed tactics. They say that they are marching on Aleppo, that they intend to liberate that town, to focus all their energies on going after Aleppo and they say that will be the death blow to the Bashar al Assad regime -- Jennifer.

WESTHOVEN: Wow. Well, very interesting as we hear reports about what could be a power shift there between the regime and the rebels.

CNN's Mohammed Jamjoom, thank you very much.

This morning, we're getting conflicting reports on Michael Jackson's mother, Katherine Jackson. The 82-year-old was reported missing late Saturday. Now then her son Jermaine tweeted, she's fine and resting in Arizona. The missing persons report comes a few days after we learned of a big fight going between Mrs. Jackson's advisers and some of her children over money, finances and legal affairs.

Joining us on the phone from San Diego is CNN's Alan Duke with the latest on this.

Some of these developments are coming via Twitter. But Mrs. Jackson's lawyer is saying she fears for Mrs. Jackson's safety.

Do we really know that she's OK, Alan?

ALAN DUKE, CNN CORRESPONDENT (via telephone): Well, we don't know if she's OK. What we do know is that a missing persons report was filed late Saturday night by her nephew, Trent Jackson. Trent Jackson is closest to her because he's her driver, her assistant, essentially her valet, just handles a lot of her business.

He's been concerned the past week since he hasn't seen her since then. But what most worries him, the lawyer, and her business manager, is the fact that three children who live with her, Michael Jackson's three children, Prince, Blanket, and Paris, have not been able to speak to their grandmother.

In fact, this morning early this morning, Paris took to her Twitter account and said, yes, my grandmother is missing. I haven't spoken to her in a week. I want her home now. If anybody sees grandmother, please call authorities or this number -- and she gave her security guard's number.

She's very upset, I understand even got into a shouting match of sorts on the phone with Janet Jackson who told her she couldn't talk to her grandmother because her grandmother was resting. Now, it sounds like if she's resting she's OK. But what the lawyer says, what the manager says and what Trent says is they're concerned because it's not like Katherine Jackson to not talk to them in a 24-hour period. Now it's been a week.

She left her Calabasas, California, home a week ago with older daughter Rebbie, and bound for a concert in Albuquerque. She didn't show up. They want to know what's up with that.

WESTHOVEN: Wow, that's a very fascinating story. We will keep watching any updates on that. We'll be back with more news coming up.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

WESTHOVEN: Good morning. I'm Jennifer Westhoven.

This morning, we have breaking news regarding the statue of Joe Paterno, the former revered football coach at Penn State. Of course there's been a big controversy about whether or not that statue would stay.

Joining us from New York this morning is Susan Candiotti -- Susan.

SUSAN CANDIOTTI, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Jennifer.

Yes, this announcement just coming by way of paper statement from the president of Penn State University. The statue will be removed. The president of Penn State calling it a recurring wound, in his words, to the victims of child abuse.

Therefore, he says, it will be removed from outside the football stadium and stored, calling it a source of division and an obstacle to healing and the source of a heated debate, of course, not only on Penn State but around the country -- in light of the Freeh report which found coach Joe Paterno who died in January, along with three other top Penn State officials didn't do everything they could. And, in fact, in the words of former FBI director Louis Freeh, had helped to cover up the scandal surrounding child abuse and Jerry Sandusky.

So the statue will be removed and stored. We don't know when yet, Jennifer.

WESTHOVEN: Now, do you know anything about the reaction from students, for example? I mean, there's been so much controversy about this. I mean, so many people know this statue right outside the football stadium.

CANDIOTTI: Oh, it goes well beyond students. The controversy goes to everyone in the United States, including victims of child abuse, including people who are alumni. There are people who are for it, against it.

But it's coming down right now outside the statue. There are a number of people, as they have been for a number of days, because everyone knew that the decision would be coming. Now you have a lot of people standing around the statue, workers, again, in anticipation of it being removed and stored. We don't know when that's going to happen. It could be as early as today.

WESTHOVEN: All right. Thank you very much, Susan Candiotti in New York.

Coming up -- we're going to go to Randi, who's in Aurora, Colorado, now for the latest -- Randi.

KAYE: Thank you, Jennifer.

Coming up in the 8:00 hour from Aurora, we will talk with an explosives expert on what exactly was found at suspect James Holmes' apartment.

Plus, we're going to talk with a rabbi and a pastor in our "Faces of Faith" segment about how people can keep their faith once it's been shaken by a tragedy like this one here in Aurora.

Thank you so much for watching CNN SUNDAY MORNING. I'll be back at the top of the hour with much more live from Aurora.

CNN SUNDAY MORNING continues then.

But, for now, "SANJAY GUPTA, M.D." starts.