Return to Transcripts main page

Starting Point with Soledad O'Brien

Quantico Marine Base Shooting; "He Shot My Baby In The Head"; 100 Vehicles Crash On Snowy Highway; Wild Weather Swings; Teen Survives Burglar Break In; NRA State Affiliation Sues Over New York Gun Law; March Madness Bracket Busters; Movie "Admission" Opens Today

Aired March 22, 2013 - 07:30   ET

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

CHRISTINE ROMANS, CNN ANCHOR: All right, breaking news, we're getting new details on a shooting at the Quantico Marine Base in Virginia, leaving three dead. All three are Marines. The base was on lockdown earlier this morning. The gunman killing himself inside a barracks as police moved in.

Here's what Quantico officials said in a news conference just a few moments ago.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

COL. DAVID MAXWELL, QUANTICO BASE COMMANDER: The shooter, an active duty Marine, was pronounced dead of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound by law enforcement at the scene. Two other victims, a male and female both active duty Marines, were pronounced dead at the scene. The three Marines involved in this incident were all permanent personnel assigned to Officers Candidates School.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Quantico officials say the identity of the shooter and his victims will be withheld for at least 24 hours while next of kin are notified.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: Now we have a developing story, really disturbing developing story in coastal in a coastal Georgia town. A 13-month-old boy in a stroller fatally shot in the face. His mother claims that two boys approached them, showed a gun and demanded money.

The investigation is going into its second day now and CNN's Nick Valencia is in Brunswick, Georgia. Nick, you have new details this morning.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We do. Good morning, John. I just got off the phone with the public information officer for the Brunswick Police Department. He tells me we should expect a press conference later this morning. He also tells me that police investigators are checking attendance records at area schools.

As you mention these suspects are young boys. One described between the age of 13 and 15, the other as young as 10. Now they're cross- referencing who was missing that day in local area schools and hoping of getting any leads. Now what we do know happened is right behind me here at this corner Thursday morning at about 9:00 a.m., a mother was strolling along on her morning walk, pushing her 13-month-old in a stroller when she was approached by these two young boys.

I spoke with the city manager from Brunswick City. He says there's no clear motive. But yesterday just hours after her baby was pronounced dead the mother gave a very emotional interview to our local affiliate WAWS and she said they were trying to rob her.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

LOUIS SANTIAGO, FATHER: Why? Why my little one? You know, they should have just taken the pocketbook and go.

SHERRY WEST, MOTHER: They said we're going to kill you if you don't give your money. I said I swear I don't have any. I put my arms around my baby and he shot me and then he shot my baby right in the head.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: Now, what's further confusing investigators, John, is that there were no other witnesses. The only account of what happened is coming from the mother. Currently, there is a manhunt under way for the two boys. There is also a $10,000 reward being offered -- John.

BERMAN: All right, Nick Valencia in Brunswick, Georgia. Thank you for that report. We are joined here by our panel, Ryan Lizza, Washington correspondent for the "New Yorker" and CNN contributor Chris John Farley, senior editorial director of digital features at the "Wall Street Journal" and editor of the "Speak Easy" blog.

We're just reporting the story out of Brunswick, Georgia, this 13- month-old baby allegedly apparently killed. It just sounds awful, but it seems like we need a lot more details, too.

RYAN LIZZA, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: It's heart-wrenching. It seems like they don't have the suspects. It's difficult to even watch and listen to that.

CHRIS JOHN FARLEY, CNN CONTRIBUTOR: This is one of those stories that is very emotional. You want to know more. You want to know details before you can start giving opinions about what's happening. It's something we have to wait and see. Wait for the details to come out, but certainly your heart goes out to everyone involved in the situation.

ROMANS: Very early stages of the investigation and we heard that as Nick reported, that they're canvassing the local schools to find out what the attendance records were to find out who these kids who she says shot her child are.

Now we've got this sort of daunting cleanup in Western Canada. I don't know if you've seen this picture, 100 vehicles piled up on the main highway between Edmonton and Calgary. Metal mashed all over the place, dozens of people hurt.

We've got CNN's Paula Newton in Ottawa. Paula, it's hard to believe no one was killed here. Investigators are saying it was wild weather and also high speed involved in the chain reaction. Tell us more.

PAUL NEWTON, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Christine, you're dealing with zero visibility, and basically there wasn't a highway here. This was a skating rink. What ended up happening was they had a 100-vehicle pileup. He said 100 people injured.

They had to send buses to this area to triage people in order to make sure they could be treated on the scene. I'm sure this helped keep down the number of vehicles. If you can imagine in the middle of, I guess, it's a spring blizzard having to go car to car on that highway looking for people that were injured or in trouble.

Believe me it's been a bad, bad day throughout Western Canada. They were lucky. I mean, the city is still trying to clean up today. They say it is basically wreckage strewn all over this highway.

It will take them days to clean up, but they are thankful that only one seems to have been seriously injured. I think I speak for a lot of people from the Rockies to the east coast, U.S. to Canada, will be happy to see the backside of this winter weather.

ROMANS: In spring. It is officially spring. Paula Newton, I'm very glad no one was seriously injured.

BERMAN: Wild weather certainly appeared to be everywhere right now, extreme drought, extreme flooding and deadly tornadoes. What is behind these big swings and what is behind this giant snow mess we seem to be on perpetually now?

Jennifer Delgado is in Atlanta with a weather check for us. Hi, Jennifer.

JENNIFER DELGADO, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Hi, guys. You're right. You know what? We are talking about a big change in our day-to-day weather. This is in direct effect. It looks like a global warming. We know this is happening over the last 100 years we've seen temperatures actually rising 1.3 degrees.

That includes land, as well as ocean. And what this is doing, it's having an effect. It's melting ice. This is leading to higher sea levels, as well as the atmosphere is now holding more moisture. And that is leading, of course, to more rainfall, and then changes in the jet stream pattern.

Now, as we move over to our next graphic we want to talk about how this is affecting the day-to-day weather and what we're seeing the most evidence for. Well, let's talk about heat waves. This time last year, we saw temperatures running about 30 degrees above average.

Right now we're cold. I think we have some video of heat waves to kind of give you an idea of yeah, you see the sun shooing. What we're dealing with are big ridges. Nothing really can get through there. You don't see the precipitation or the clouds coming through to cool things off.

The other one that we're showing the greatest evidence for is coastal flooding. Now a lot of people kind of think that, what about Superstorm Sandy. Did that have an effect with the coastal flooding? We can't say for sure. But what we can tell you is with global warming and the warming temperatures, this is allowing the sea level to rise.

And that is leading to the greater coastal flooding like the video you just saw as well as the storm surge. So we can't say whether or not Superstorm Sandy was affected by the global warming but we can tell you this, that it did have an effect on the coastal region.

Also want to point out that for extreme precipitation, with the warmer temperatures, this allows for more of that moisture out there. And then the other side we're talking about severe droughts. When you're dealing with droughts, the jet stream basically can't do its job, and that's when we start to see those conditions happening.

We get these long periods and of course that has a big economic impact. What we have lesser evidence for, with global warming is hurricanes and tornadoes because these are smaller scale events. I know it's very complicated but the reality is, it's happening, and it's having an effect on our day-to-day weather.

BERMAN: Jennifer Delgado, our thanks to you. That, of course, a very serious weather story. A less than serious weather story is a lawsuit being filed by an Ohio prosecutor essentially trying to sue Punxsutawney Phil, the groundhog, for his wrong forecast for the winter right now.

He's suing him for misrepresentation of early spring, and an unclassified felony and against the peace and dignity of the state of Ohio. And this Ohio lawyer is actually calling for the death penalty on Punxsutawney Phil which seems extreme.

LIZZA: It seems a little extreme. But that presentation on the relationship between climate change and what's going on is one of the best I've seen on any news network. But what it comes down to is what the scientists have predicted is exactly what's happening.

We're going to have more drier weather in the southwest and more precipitation in the northeast, and that's what we're seeing. Not to step on the Punxsutawney Phil story. Obama, everyone thought climate change bill was dead.

But Obama did put it in the state of the union and there's some talk in congress that if you can get a big grand bargain that perhaps there are elements in that that's going to address climate change, but it's hard. Nobody wants to put a price on carbon.

ROMANS: We've got a story out of Southern California. A teenage girl in Southern California survives a scene right out of a horror movie. She's cowering in a closet while three burglars invade her house.

The 15-year-old Doyin Oladipupo called 911, ran into her parents' walk-in closet when the alarm system went off and she was home alone. So the emergency operator telling the frightened girl, don't say a word, after she heard the criminal's voices just inches away from Doyin as she hid behind the clothes.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED BURGLAR: Bring the bucket over here.

UNIDENTIFIED DISPATCHER: OK, don't talk.

UNIDENTIFIED BURGLAR: Bring it over here.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I don't know how I did it honestly because when I think about it now, my heart just starts beating.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROMANS: Police arrived shortly, and after that they arrested three teen suspects in a stolen car in the driveway. The heroic high school student was not physically harmed. Boy she kept her cool, didn't she?

This morning, more on the NRA's lawsuit against the state of New York's new gun law. It says it's unconstitutional. Stephen Barton is a survivor of the Aurora movie theatre shooting. He works with the Newtown family as part of his work "Mayors Against Illegal Guns."

STEPHEN BARTON, AURORA SHOOTING SURVIVOR: Thanks for having me.

ROMANS: First of all the idea that the NRA is now fighting I guess it's not a surprise that the NRA would be fighting back against New York. What's your reaction?

BARTON: I mean, like you said, not a surprise, but I mean, historically assault weapons bans have been held up in similar laws as New York enacted has been held up as constitutional by the courts.

BERMAN: Stephen, you were in a meeting yesterday with the vice president, correct?

BARTON: That's correct.

BERMAN: And the vice president was meeting with Mayor Michael Bloomberg, also survivors of Newtown essentially vowing to keep this fight on for the assault weapons ban. That's what we heard from him publicly. Do you think there's going to be any chance that this assault weapons ban will get through Congress? Behind the scene was it more discouraged? What was the discussion like?

BARTON: Not at all. I mean, the vice president was being realistic about the chances of this particular piece of legislation passing. As President Obama said during the "State of the Union" speech these families, these people who have been affected most personally by gun violence at least deserve a vote on the floor of the Senate. We hope we'll get that at least by amendment by tacking on Senator Feinstein's ban to the general legislation.

ROMANS: Really almost two very different worlds in America right now about gun violence. There are people who tell me the phrase gun violence isn't even a legitimate phrase. You know, that it's people violence and guns are a consumer product.

Here you -- you're in this, you're talking about this, because you are a survivor of, of an attack with, with a weapon. Do you see these two world views and do you see them moving to the at all with what we've watched in this process so far?

BARTON: I mean, these two worlds I hear all the time, guns kill people, people kill people. But the truth is people with guns kill people and at an alarming rate in this country. Over 30 Americans are murdered every single day with guns.

And so there are these kinds of polar opposite sides but there definitely is middle ground and you look at the polling, you look at nine in ten Americans supporting background checks for all gun sales, seven in ten NRA members supporting the same.

So, you know, we have to cut through the ideology and just work together to get these well-deserved measures on the floor of our Congress.

LIZZA: I know you don't live in Colorado, you were biking through. That's why you were in that theatre that night.

BARTON: Right.

LIZZA: But Colorado has now passed this fairly stringent gun law. You obviously follow this issue pretty closely. Is that what we're moving towards a state by state solution where states are going to pass like Colorado and New York and we'll have this patchwork and then hopefully it will bubble up to the federal level at some point?

BARTON: Historically, gun laws have always been a patchwork of state laws that, you know, don't cover everything. But this is a national problem that applies to a national solution. You look at the state level. States go beyond federal laws that require background checks for handguns for example.

The domestic violence homicide rate in those states is lower than other states. Suicide drops, as well. So I mean, states are laboratories for federal legislation. We can see what works. So I really do hope, as you say, that this bubbles up to the federal level because it will save lives.

ROMANS: Stephen Barton, Aurora shooting survivor. It's nice to see you again.

BERMAN: Ahead on STARTING POINT, a bracket buster in the very first round of March Madness. We will have the new standings in our "Bleacher Report."

BERMAN: And Tina Fey's new movie "Admission" opens this weekend. John got to sit down with two of her co-stars. You're watching STARTING POINT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: Just one day into March Madness and brackets are busted everywhere. Thanks to the mighty Crimson of Harvard beating New Mexico. Andy Scholes joins us now with the "Bleacher Report." Hi, Andy.

ANDY SCHOLES, "BLEACHER REPORT": Good morning, guys. I'm in the same boat as everyone else who picked New Mexico to beat Harvard. This was such a big upset that President Obama, who went to Harvard, even picked New Mexico to lose this game in his bracket.

But this is a perfect example of why it's called March Madness. The Crimson knocked down threes all game and hit the clutch shots down the stretch to get their first-ever NCAA tournament win. Harvard now moves on to play Arizona in round three.

After last night's upset less than 1 percent of more than 8 million brackets filled out on ESPN are still perfect. One person's bracket who wasn't busted by Harvard is the Crimson's most famous hoops alum Jeremy Lin.

He tweeted this pick after the win saying, yes, Harvard wins, ha, ha, ha, I told you. If only we would all listen to Jeremy. There's almost a bigger upset than New Mexico yesterday. Gonzaga nearly became the first top seed to lose to a 16-seed.

This game was tied with 4 minutes to go. The Zags closed the game on a 10-4 run to avoid disaster. They will play Wichita State in round three. Top seeded Louisville also moved on. They will play Colorado State in round two. The other two top seeds will look to join them today.

Indiana takes on James Madison while Kansas goes up against Western Kentucky. Right now number four in the line up on bleacherreport.com. Marquette trailed Davidson by five points with 40 seconds to go.

They hit a couple threes and Vander Blue takes this inbound all the way for the game-winning lay-up with one second left. Golden Eagles avoid the upset with 59-58 win. Of course, we've got 16 more games on tap today. And my bracket couldn't get any worse. So, I don't know what I'm going to look forward to today.

BERMAN: I'm sure it's better than mine. Andy Scholes, thank you so much, really appreciate it.

LIZZA: Did you pick Harvard?

BERMAN: Of course, I didn't. Who would pick Harvard?

FARLEY: This has been getting better and better for years. This is just really inevitable that they were going to do something, make some noise in the tournament.

BERMAN: World domination inevitable.

Ahead on STARTING POINT, college admissions not just competitive for students, Tina Fey's new movie takes a hilarious look at what it's like for the admissions officers themselves.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROMANS: The intensely competitive world of college admissions is the subject of a new movie, "Admission" that opens today. Tina Fey is the college counselor, competing with another admissions officer played by Gloria Rubin for the dean of admissions at Princeton. Their boss played by Wallace Shawn gets to choose his successor.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Breaking records in application numbers, naturally, because we've been number one for so long, number one until today. Princeton has just fallen to number two. What this means is that we all have to work harder than ever because I want to go out on top.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: The horror of Princeton falling to number two. So I sat down with both Wallace Shawn and Gloria Reuben to talk about this film.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: So this is a film that takes place sort of during the college admissions process. Now, it was a long time for me, but I'm still scarred by the college admissions process. Where is the humor in college admissions?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: With this guy.

WALLACE SHAWN, ACTOR, "ADMISSION": The humor is really in the competition, I suppose, between the two ladies who want to take over my job as the director of admissions.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Clarence, we're going to be back on top. We're going to make that happen, by working together, right, Portia?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Absolutely.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: As a mother myself, I know the importance of teamwork.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And I am not a mother, but I know the importance of it too, can't go it alone.

BERMAN: I have heard during the filming of this, that it was hard to get through without getting cracked up.

GLORIA REUBEN, ACTOR, "ADMISSION": He would.

SHAWN: I -- I don't remember that, but I was just trying not to be fired and honored to be in such an "A" list movie for a "D" list actor.

BERMAN: Tina Fey, all the buzz, tremendous energy on film and TV when we see her. What is it like when you put it together?

REUBEN: Well, she's not that funny or anything, so we just try to fill in the gaps. She's great, obviously highly intelligent and so easy to work with. It was a great, fun experience all the way around.

BERMAN: Many of us saw just you in "Lincoln," the film, which was wonderful. And many of us watch you constantly in reruns of "E.R." Both pretty serious dramas, what was it like to be a comedy?

REUBEN: It was a relief. Listen, for the rest of my life I had carry a great deal of personal fulfillment and great deal of, you know -- very proud of the work on both "E.R." and in Stevens masterpiece, "Lincoln," no question about it. Really fun to have fun and "Lincoln" was great fun, but to have levity in what I was doing.

BERMAN: In the subject of careers, Wallace, I'm sure I will indulge you like every other person has indulged you. You played one of the iconic villains from "The Princess Bride."

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You made your decision.

WALLACE: Comes from Australia, and it is entirely colonized by criminals. And I do not trust you.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You have a dizzying intellect.

BERMAN: Having played such an iconic role, a blessing, curse?

WALLACE: I suppose it's nice that people in hospitals or nursing homes are watching your work and enjoying it, and their pain is alleviating it.

BERMAN: I think your demographic is a little younger.

WALLACE: It's nice that people have had a nice moment out of that. I guess, but it's odd for me.

BERMAN: We are grateful for both your past work and the continuing work are you both doing. Before I let you go, let me ask you about the college admissions process, having been part of the film and studied the dark underbelly. What's your advice to students who are headed to college who would like to apply?

WALLACE: If you meet a wonderful teacher, that will be very wonderful for you and you may meet them at a prestigious college or a college that has absolutely no prestige, completely meaningless.

REUBEN: If I may quote something from the film, just be yourself. Good, right?

WALLACE: Exactly, exactly.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: Just be yourself, Christine. Good luck with that.

ROMANS: People spending all of this money, trying to have their kid be the perfect admissions candidate.

FARLEY: Gotten perfect SATs and 6'8", then be yourself. You will get admitted, right?

BERMAN: All right, guys, ahead on STARTING POINT, is the amount of salt you are eating, is it killing you? A new study shows we are eating too much sodium, and we're paying a high price for it. Dr. Sanjay Gupta will be here to explain.

ROMANS: More on a developing story right now out of Quantico, Virginia. A deadly shooting leaves three Marines dead. We're live on the scene. You're watching STARTING POINT.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)