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Two Police Officers Shot During Ferguson Protest; Witness Describes Shooting of Two Officers; Michael Brown's Family Releases Letter on Police Shootings; President Obama Sends Out Tweet on Shootings; Eric Holder to Speak About Ferguson Shootings

Aired March 12, 2015 - 13:00   ET

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

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ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

WOLF BLITZER, CNN ANCHOR: Hello, I'm Wolf Blitzer. It's 1:00 p.m. here in Washington. Wherever you're watching from around the world, thanks very much for joining us.

We begin with the breaking news. A shooter on the loose. Two police officers just released from the hospital. Authorities now say their number one priority is to find the person who shot and seriously wounded the officers during a protest in Ferguson, Missouri overnight. One officer was struck in the shoulder, the other in the face. The St. Louis county police chief described the injuries and said the outcome could have been tragic.

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JON BELMAR, CHIEF OF POLICE, ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT: Fortunately, with both officers, we don't have any remarkable long- term injuries. In other words, it -- we didn't -- there wasn't a -- it wasn't in somebody's brain or heart or anything like this. But you need to know, these two officers took a very hard hit. Andy anytime you're not in the face and have a bullet lodged in your head, anytime you have a through and through wound where the bullet enters your shoulder and comes out the middle of your right back, those are hard hits. So, we're lucky, by god's grace, we didn't lose two officers last night.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Police say the shooting of the two officers was an ambush and that the shots were directed at the police. They say the crowd was dwindling following a demonstration outside police headquarters when shots suddenly rang out.

Let's go to Ferguson right now. Jake Tapper, the Anchor of "THE LEAD" is there joining us. Jake, give us the latest on what's going on. We know this search apparently still continues for the shooter or more shooters.

JAKE TAPPER, ANCHOR, "THE LEAD": That's right. St. Louis County police were searching a house earlier today at nearby Dade Avenue, a bungalow. They took out three individuals, two men and a woman. A neighbor described at least the woman as having been handcuffed. But the St. Louis police say nobody is in, quote, unquote, "custody" and nobody has been arrested. But they are being questioned as part of this very intense, active investigation as to who shot these two police officers. We also know that the two officers thankfully have been released from the -- from the hospital, Barnes Jewish Hospital and seem to be OK.

What we know about them, one of them is a police officer from nearby Webster Grove. He's 32 years old. Had been on the force for seven years. He's been shot -- apparently the bullet went in right around here, the high point of his cheek, right under his right eye and is still lodged behind his ear even though he was discharged from the hospital and is expected to be OK.

The other officer from St. Louis County, a 14-year veteran of law enforcement. And that bullet hit a shoulder. It came out the middle of his back. They have both been treated and released and they are expected to make a full recovery. They were standing next to each other, we're told. There were about two dozen police officers right at the police station. And the shots came from a nearby parking lot.

But, right now, Wolf, I want in a witness to what happened last night, one of the protestors, Johnetta Elzie. Come on in. Thank you so much for being here. She's from nearby St. Louis. She was a protester. She works for Amnesty International. Tell us, if you would, about, first of all, what you saw when it came to the shooting? Where did the bullets come from?

JOHNETTA ELZIE, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL: From what I saw, the bullets came from the hill.

TAPPER: From up the hill right here.

ELZIE: From up the hill. It was behind the protestors, and I was standing over there where the gray car is. And so, I just saw -- like, I heard four shots ring out. And then, I looked over and as I'm, like, panning from the protestors to the police, I see protestors on the ground and they're crawling, trying to make sure that -- you know, like, we didn't know if any more shots were going to be fired. And then, I looked across the street and the police were on the ground also for about a minute. And then, they got up and half of them trained their guns onto the hill, and then the other half were helping the police officers up and dragging them across the grass.

TAPPER: So, you're saying the protesters -- that the bullets came from behind the protestors --

ELZIE: Right.

TAPPER: -- not from within the crowd of the protesters?

ELZIE: No.

TAPPER: There were about, what, 70 to a hundred protestors?

ELZIE: Last night, I would say it was 200 total. But at the time, it was maybe like 60 or 70.

TAPPER: Sixty or 70. And some of the things -- even though the police chief announced his resignation, a county clerk, a local clerk has, as well as other individuals, you guys want the police force disbanded, that's why the protest and the mayor to resign?

ELZIE: Well, we protested last night, because there's still no justice for -- there are seven total black men and teenage boys who have been killed in St. Louis. And the police have not been held accountable. So, even though the mayor -- or I'm sorry. Even though the chief stepped down and the city manager, that's still not a win.

TAPPER: You know, what I understand that there were -- there had been arrests before the shots rang out. The police had arrested some of the protestors for various things, blocking streets. You saw those arrests?

ELZIE: Yes, and that -- I mean, that's normal for the police. They did a snatch and grab last night, also, which is normal for them. And so, we were standing literally for about 30 --

TAPPER: I don't -- can you explain what that means?

ELZIE: Oh, a snatch and grab is when they approach protestors and then cause commotion and just snatch and grab people out of the crowd.

TAPPER: OK.

ELZIE: So, they arrested three people, I think. And a lawyer -- a law observe -- a legal observer and a protestor went to the Ferguson Police Department at the time, like right before the shots were fired.

TAPPER: Right.

ELZIE: And they were working on getting people out. So, they were standing at the door. So, at the same time, even though the shots were fired and they hit the police, they could have hit out -- the protestors and the lawyers also.

TAPPER: Now, there's video out there of police on the ground tending to the two wounded officers, kind of being harassed or razzed by some of the crowd. Were you -- did you witness any of that?

ELZIE: No. Like, protestors definitely were trying to get off the parking lot --

TAPPER: They were trying to get out of there.

ELZIE: -- and drive away. We had to walk across the parking lot with our hands up and the police still trained their guns on us as if they we were the suspects and they saw all of us standing here.

(CROSSTALK)

TAPPER: Were you here in October after the verdict or lack of verdict was announced of the Grand Jury? ELZIE: Yes.

TAPPER: I recall the same thing, shots being fired from above the hill.

ELZIE: Right.

TAPPER: Protestors down here, police officers there, shots from up there.

ELZIE: Right.

TAPPER: Do you remember that as well?

ELZIE: Yes. I mean, it's a dangerous situation. It's a dark street. You can't see up there. It's a hill. Anybody could be up there.

TAPPER: All right. Johnetta Elzie, we're glad you're OK. Thank you so much.

ELZIE: Thank you.

TAPPER: Wolf, back to you.

BLITZER: All right, Jake, thanks very much. Jake, of course, will have a special hour coming up later today, 4:00 p.m. Eastern on the lead. That for our North American viewers.

Let's go to our National Correspondent Jason Carroll. Jason, as we mentioned, the shooter is still on the loose. You're outside the home where a tactical situation, that's what the police described it, has just wrapped up. What can you tell us?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, lots to tell from where we are. We're just about a half a mile from where Jake was located here on Dade Avenue. The house behind me is the one that you see here. That is the one in question. According to neighbors, three people taken out of the house in custody, brought in for questioning.

I actually spoke to the grandmother, Wolf, of one of the young women who was taken into custody. She's 23 years old. Her name is Iresha Turner (ph). Her grandmother tells me that last night her granddaughter did show up at that protest. And then, she got a call from her, basically saying that she was upset. She had heard the shooting. She had heard the gunfire. She asked her grandmother what she should do. Her grandmother told her to get home right away. And her grandmother says that's the last she heard. Until this morning, when she got a call from a neighbor to say to come over to the house, because it was surrounded by police. I spoke to her just a little while ago. I want you to listen to what her grandmother had to say.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

There's just too much going on. I'm already stress out. It's just too much stuff going on with these kids. It's just crazy. It's so crazy that these kids are up there protesting and then doing this. They need to be at home. That's where they need to be. In the house. All this is -- it's really uncalled for what's going on. It's really uncalled for.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: So, you can see there, Wolf, the grandmother very, very upset about what's been going on here in Ferguson. She says her granddaughter is not a suspect. She says her granddaughter was simply brought in for questioning. I asked her, I said, did she see anyone who may have fired a shot. She did not believe that her granddaughter saw anyone who had fired a shot. But, again, she was taken into custody. And according to neighbors here, two other young men who were also inside the house brought in for questioning as well -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right, we'll where, if anywhere, that leads. Jason, stand by.

We just got a statement in from the parents of Michael Brown Junior. He's the young man who was shot and killed in Ferguson about seven months or so ago by a police officer. Here's the statement. I'll read it to our viewers. The family of Michael Brown Junior condemns this morning's senseless shooting of two Ferguson police officers. We reject any kind of violence directed toward members of law enforcement. It cannot and will not be tolerated. We specifically denounce the actions of standalone agitators who unsuccessfully attempt to derail the otherwise peaceful and nonviolent movement that has emerged throughout this nation to confront police brutality and to forward the cause of equality under the law for all. We must work together to bring peace to our communities. Our thoughts and prayers remain with the officers injured, during this morning's shooting, and their families. A strong statement from Michael Brown's parents released by the law firm representing them.

President Obama, meanwhile, he's also speaking out on these shootings in Ferguson for the first time on Twitter. Let's go to our White House Correspondent Michelle Kosinski. What's he saying, Michelle?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Wolf. We just saw this tweet written by the President himself saying that violence against police is unacceptable. Our prayers are with the officers in Missouri. Path to justice is one all of us must travel together.

And we heard earlier today, too, from the attorney general, Eric Holder. His statement was equally strong, this heinous assault on two brave law enforcement officers was inexcusable and repugnant. I condemn violence against any public safety officials in the strongest terms and the Department of Justice will never accept any threats or violence directed at those who serve and protect our communities.

At the end of his statement, he said, too, that we will continue to stand unequivocally against all acts of violence against cops whenever and wherever they occur. And that's what we've seen from the administration throughout. I mean, really, at the start of Ferguson and incidents prior as well that they feel they need to make these strong statements against patterns of activity within the police department, against violence toward protestors. But, at the same time, they want to strike this balance and make sure that they speak out equally against violence directed to law enforcement officers -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And we're told that the attorney general is going to be making a statement. He's going to be speaking at a previously scheduled event this hour. We'll see if he speaks about the shootings of those police officers in Ferguson. We'll, of course, have coverage of that. Eric Holder is getting ready to speak this hour.

Much more coming up on these Ferguson police shootings, including the impact all of this will have on an already fractured community. I'll speak with the president of the NAACP's St. Louis branch. Much more on that. That's coming up.

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BLITZER: Police say they've recovered shell casings that could be tied to the Ferguson police shootings. During a news conference this morning, the St. Louis police chief was asked what kind of gun was used.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CHIEF JON BELMAR, ST. LOUIS COUNTY POLICE: We feel like it's a pistol, a handgun. We recovered some shell casings up in the area. We don't know 100 percent yet if those are going to be the shell casings that are going to be attributed to this shooting. So - but we do believe it's a handgun based on the way the shots sounded and the injuries to the police officers.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BLITZER: Joining us on the phone right now is our CNN law enforcement analyst, the former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes.

I assume, Tom, crucial to this investigation are the ballistics that they're discovers right now. Explain what they're looking for.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST (via telephone): Well, what they need, Wolf, is, first of all, the shell casing can be matched to a particular firearm. The extractor that causes the shell to be ejected will be unique. The firing pin that strikes the primer that makes the bullet go off will be unique and identifiable to the firearm, but they have to recover that firearm.

The bullet, the actual lead that comes out of the barrel, will have striations on it. So the bullets, one went through - was a through and through wound on one officer, but the other one, we're told, is lodged behind the ear in the second police officer. So, at some point, they'll need that particular bullet and see, if it's not been too damaged by striking bone and other tissue, if it's in good enough shape to conduct a ballistics test and link it to a specific gun and gun barrel.

BLITZER: They've already suggested very strongly it's a handgun, a pistol, that was used. How do they know that so quickly as opposed to let's say a rifle?

FUENTES: I think they're basing it, number one, on the shell casings, helped them assume that it's probably a handgun. But, secondly, the crowd, when you fire a rifle, a rifle bullet is supersonic. In other words, it breaks the sound barrier and leaves a loud crack sound, like a whiplash sound, that everybody would have clearly heard very loudly. Also, the bullet speed of a handgun might be around 700 feet per second. Fired out of a rifle, a bullet might be over 2,000 feet per second and much larger. And a bullet wound like that striking someone just above the - at the high point of their right cheek below the eye would almost certainly be a fatal wound.

BLITZER: So they've considered - but whoever did this shooting must have had pretty good aim if he or she knew - could use a pistol or a handgun in a way like this I assume specifically targeting two police officers.

FUENTES: That's extremely accurate. You're right, Wolf. Having been a police and FBI firearm instructor for many years, to shoot a handgun at 125 yards and he fire four shots, two of them striking officers standing side by side, that really is remarkable marksmanship.

BLITZER: Because 125 yards, that's more than a football field, when you think about it. And to - to be that precise with a handgun, with a pistol, that requires a lot of experience. I assume that's further going to help authorities try to find the person or persons who were responsible.

FUENTES: Well, it certainly may. And I'm telling you, even for trained police officers shooting at 10 or 20 feet, to be able to hit targets that accurately is pretty good shooting. You know, we watch TV shows and think that, you know, like James Bond, somebody can shoot 125 yards away and shoot the gun out of the person's hand, which is absurd. That takes a great deal of skill to be able to fire. And if it was just one lucky shot, that would be one thing. But to shoot two officers standing next to each other, that's pretty clearly excellent marksmanship.

BLITZER: It certainly is. All right, I'm sure that will help police in their investigation. Tom, thank you very much.

Coming up, more on the breaking news. A spokesman for the St. Louis police officer organization telling CNN the protestors are at least partially to blame for the shooting last night. We're going to ask the president of the St. Louis NAACP his thoughts. There he is. He's standing by. Much more right after this.

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BLITZER: Two police officers are now recovering from gunshot wounds following a shooting in Ferguson, Missouri. It happened near the end of a demonstration outside police headquarters there. The St. Louis County police chief says, and I'm quoting him now, "I think it's a miracle that we haven't had any instances similar to this over the summer and fall."

Joining us now a Adolphus Pruitt. He's the president of the St. Louis NAACP.

Mr. Pruitt, thanks very much for joining us.

This is a serious setback, this police shooting of these two police officers. Give us your reaction to what has happened in your community over the past few hours.

ADOLPHUS PRUITT, PRESIDENT, ST. LOUIS NAACP: You know, unfortunately, last night was a violent night here in St. Louis. We had a five-year- old kid killed in one part of the city, and then later on in the night we had two police officers shot. It's never good to have anybody suffering from a gunshot wound of any nature, irrespective of what it is they're doing and who they're representing. So it was a bad night.

I'm just looking forward to moving on and continuing the conversation going in the direction it needs to go in to bring the wholesale change that needs to happen with police and reinforcing a policeman and the police and community relationship.

BLITZER: Most of the protestors, as you well know, Mr. Pruitt, they've been peaceful. Although they -- going way back, there have been what are called these outside agitators who come in and create violence. In fact, the Michael Brown parents, they issued a statement just a little while ago saying that they support the peaceful demonstrations certainly in memory of their son, but they condemn, they denounce the actions of standalone agitators. Tell us about these standalone agitators who may be coming in from out of town just to foment, if you will, violence.

PRUITT: Yes, unfortunately, the fact that they have been here off and on throughout most of the protest is not new. I mean we all know about them and us and law enforcement have been keeping our eye on them. But they -- they're here, we just need to recognize the fact that we need to be vigilant, make sure that we watch out for everybody's best interest and not get caught up in what's going on and let it derail the process that is going on here in Ferguson. At the end of the day, we still have to move the ball forward. We still have to create the changes that need to happen. And we're not going to let anybody on the outside or inside derail us from that goal or mission.

BLITZER: Jeff Rourd (ph), who is with the St. Louis police officer's organization, he was on CNN's "New Day" earlier today and he said the protestors, in his words, and I'm quoting him now, "have poured kerosene on this fire and they've been aiding and abetting the agitators. I want you to respond to Jeff Rourd because he's obviously upset that these two police officers, understandably so, have been seriously hurt in these two shootings.

PRUITT: You know, I guess the best way to respond to Jeff is that it was not too long ago there was a hearing down there by the St. Louis board of alderman for a community oversight board piece of legislation and most people would say that his actions there made him the agitator. And he went further and got into a physical confrontation with folks there simply there to testify. So, I mean, Jeff is Jeff and I think we all know what his motivation is. BLITZER: The Ferguson police chief, as you know, he resigned

yesterday. Going to take effect next week. Other officials in Ferguson have resigned. Two police officers were let go. The county clerk, one of the judges, the city manager. Is that enough, or do you think there should be more resignations? Specifically the mayor, the mayor of Ferguson, must he go?

PRUITT: Yes, you know, I think our national president said it best, was that they were scrambling like roaches when you turned the light on and that's something that needs to happen and I think he called for the fact that the mayor also needs to resign. And I think we support that sentiment.

There has to be change in Ferguson. There has to be change in policing in this whole region. And it's got to happen and it's going to happen. And those folks who try to stand in the way of it, those folks who try to derail it, or those folks who are hoping it doesn't happen, they're going to come up short. The DOJ report in itself is the foundation for change that needed - it is clear. It outlines the facts. And we're going to act on those facts and make sure that the changes happen.

BLITZER: Adolphus Pruitt, the president of the St. Louis NAACP, thanks very much for joining us.

PRUITT: No, thank you.

BLITZER: We're going to have much more on the breaking news, the breaking coverage of the Ferguson police shootings. That's coming up.

But also, the day's other big story here in the United States, a new scandal for the U.S. Secret Service. Two senior officers - agents, I should say, accused of drinking and then crashing their car at the White House. Did their supervisor try to cover it all up?

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