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Gunman or Gunmen at Large in Pennsylvania; Vikings Player Adrian Petersons Charged with Child Abuse; George Zimmerman Accused of Threatening Someone; Ray Rice Attends His High School's Football Game

Aired September 13, 2014 - 14:00   ET

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


DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN ANCHOR: Hi, there, everyone. I'm Deborah Feyerick in for Fredricka Whitfield. Any time now we are expecting a news conference from a district attorney's office in Montgomery County, Texas, regarding NFL running back Adrian Peterson, who was freed on bail after being arrested on a child abuse charge. Peterson is accused of using a switch, a stick, to discipline his son in what he called a "whooping." Alexandra Field is here to bring us up to date on the latest NFL PR nightmare. Alex?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Deb, Adrian Peterson left Minnesota overnight, making the trip to Texas to turn himself into authorities with a warrant out for his arrest. A grand jury indicted Peterson. Peterson's attorney explains the charges related to Peterson using a switch to spank his son. The attorney put out a statement defending Peterson, saying that this was a form of discipline. He says, quote, "Adrian is a loving father who used his judgment as a parent to discipline his son, to use the same kind of discipline with his child that he experienced as a child growing up in east Texas." That statement goes on to say "It is important to remember that Adrian never intended to harm his son and deeply regrets the unintentional injury."

That attorney also points out that Adrian Peterson has been cooperating with authorities who had been leading the investigation. As for the Vikings, they have also immediately responded to this. They put out their own statement saying that they are in the process of gathering information regarding the legal situation involving Adrian Peterson. The Vikings are set to square off against the Patriots in Minnesota on Sunday. Right now Adrian Peterson has been deactivated. He will not be able to play in that game.

We haven't heard from Peterson himself, although he did put out a tweet on Twitter account just hours before the news broke, part of that tweet saying, quote, "God has you covered, don't stress or worry." For now, that is the most that we are hearing from Peterson, but, again, his attorney says he will continue to cooperate with investigators. Deb?

FEYERICK: Thanks, Alexandra. As we said, we are going to be going to that press conference as soon as it happens.

Also, an urgent man hunt under way in Pennsylvania for anyone who is involved in ambushing state troopers late last night. Police say that the suspect or suspects shot and killed one trooper and then shot and injured another, and it happened at the state police barracks in Blooming Grove just east of Scranton, Pennsylvania. Officers from all over the northeast are on the hunt. Several people have already been interviewed in connection with the case.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

FRANK NOONAN, PENNSYLVANIA STATE POLICE COMMISSIONER: We are certainly seeking the cooperation of the people. We don't want to alarm people. We have so many law enforcement officers in the area right now. I'm confident that we have the situation under control, but that's where it is. We don't know much more about the assailant so we can't really say what the -- that the situation is completely in hand.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

FEYERICK: And, of course, they are asking for my leads. Police have not identified either of the troopers who were shot. They have not identified a motive either. We're expecting police to hold a live news conference also at this hour.

And in Missouri, protesters are still calling for Officer Darren Wilson's arrest. There's a protest happening there right now. They believe this officer shot and killed Michael Brown while his hands were in the air. Two construction workers corroborated that account this week in a CNN exclusive interview with our Randi Kaye. Here is what they told her.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RANDI KAYE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Just after 12:00 noon, Ferguson, Missouri, the men you see in this exclusive cellphone video hear gunshots. They are about 50 feet away from Michael Brown and Officer Darren Wilson. The unidentified person recording this video captured the witnesses' reaction during the final moments of the shooting.

Both men were contractors working in the area. They did not want to be identified. The man on the left in the pink shirt told CNN they heard one gunshot, then about 30 seconds later, a second shot. He says he saw Michael Brown staggering. Then he says Brown hut his hands up saying, "OK, OK, OK." The witness told us the cop didn't say, "Get on the ground," he just kept shooting.

That same witness described the gruesome scene, saying he saw Michael Brown's brains come out of his head, again reiterating his hands were up. Watch how he motions on the video. The video these witnesses say was taken shortly after the shooting ended. If you look closely, you can see a police officer in the distance beginning to put up crime scene tape. Both men told us by the time it was over there were three officers on the scene, but only one involved in the shooting.

Another voice is also heard on the tape. The contractor in the green shirt told me that voice belongs to a man he didn't know who pulled up alongside them yelling this --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: He was no -- threat at all. KAYE: That same contractor in green also told me that he saw Michael Brown running from the police car. He said Brown put his hands up and that the officer was chasing him. He also said that Officer Wilson fired another shot at Brown while his back was turned.

The contractor in the pink shirt also shared this, that a second officer who arrived later to the scene also drew his weapon. He said "The one cop was the one who shot him, then I saw the other officer pull a gun out, but he didn't shoot." That same worker described how Brown staggered dead after the second shot 20 to 25 feet to the ground explaining "He was like a walking dead guy."

Keep in mind these men don't live in Ferguson and don't know the Brown family, but their account does square with what other witnesses said. The woman who took cellphone video of Brown's body lying in the street told CNN that Brown was shot from behind, just like the contractor in the green shirt says.

PIAGET CRENSHAW, WITNESS: While he was running away from the officer trying to get away, he was getting shot at.

KAYE: This witness told Anderson that he didn't see Brown's hands up, perhaps because he was running outside to the scene. But he did see Brown turn around before being fatally shot.

MICHAEL BRADY, WITNESS: By the time I get outside, he's already turned around, facing the officer. He -- he's -- he has his arms under the stomach, and he was like halfway down like he was going down, and the officer lets out about three or four shots at him.

KAYE: Randi Kaye, CNN, New York.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: There's a lot more news and a lot more press conferences coming upright right after a quick break.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: And police in Florida say that George Zimmerman was involved in a road rage incident this week. But the former neighborhood watch volunteer who shot and killed Trayvon Martin in 2012 denies claims that he threatened to kill another driver. Our Nick Valencia has more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was in my car rapping to myself with my windows up, and I looked over, and George Zimmerman was the driver, and they were threaten to kick my -- and to shoot me.

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: In a 911 call made to Lake Mary, Florida, police on Tuesday, a man says George Zimmerman threatened him the car. Two days later police stopped Zimmerman after that same man called 911 to say he thought he saw Zimmerman here his office.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It was disheartening to see him lurking around here.

VALENCIA: Moments later, police stopped Zimmerman. This dash-cam video from Lake Mary police shows an officer taking Zimmerman's gun. The 30-year-old appears relaxed, at times smiling, when he talks to officer. The police report says Zimmerman told them he was in the area for a doctor's appointment. After the exchange, police gave him his gun back. Zimmerman also admitted to being involved in a verbal incident earlier in the week, but denied threatening anyone.

This is the latest in a string of incidents involving Zimmerman since the acquittal of the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. In November, Zimmerman was arrested and charged in Seminal County, Florida, for allegedly pointing a gun at his then girlfriend during an argument. Charges were not filed.

Last year, police in Texas and in Florida stopped Zimmerman for speeding, and in September of 2013, Zimmerman's estranged wife, Shelly, called 911, saying Zimmerman had threatened her and her father. No charges filed in that case either.

Meanwhile, the caller in this week's incident told police he never saw Zimmerman flash a gun and that in both cases he didn't want to prosecute or pursue charges, so Zimmerman was never arrested.

BIANCA GILLETT, LAKE MARY, FLORIDA, POLICE: We cannot prosecute on behalf of a victim that does not want to participate in the prosecution. Without a victim, we do not have a crime.

VALENCIA: Nick Valencia, CNN, Atlanta.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: And more than 5,000 people compete in the Nautica Malibu Triathlon this weekend. Among them, CNN's Fit Nation Team. In this week's "Human Factor," Dr. Sanjay Gupta introduces us to a member of our team who has overcame a lot and now sees himself actually crossing that finish line.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT: And 18 months ago, Jamil Nathoo was in his prime, young, healthy, and training for a triathlon, but race day came and went.

JAMIL NATHOO: I was diagnosed with stage three-C testicular cancer, and it had spread into my abdomen and chest.

GUPTA: His triathlon had to be put on hold as he battled the cancer with chemotherapy and surgery that took a toll on his body, but he was determined to get healthy again.

NATHOO: I owe it to myself and I owe it to other cancer patients and survivors to let them know you can be fit again, you can be healthy again.

GUPTA: Nathoo started training. He joined the CNN Fit Nation Triathlon Team. Over the past seven months he has rebuilt his strength in water, on the bike, on the run, even held a cycling fundraiser in New York, raising more than $30,000 for Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. And now he is cancer free, ready for his next triathlon this weekend with the Fit Nation team.

NATHOO: I feel good, I feel strong. I feel like I'm ready for next week. It's exciting to just feel like me again.

GUPTA: And he has a renewed determination to his cause.

NATHOO: I took an oath early on that if I get through this that even if I get through the ordeal, the journey will not be over for me.

GUPTA: Dr. Sanjay Gupta, CNN, reporting.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

FEYERICK: We are showing you live pictures right now. That is Ray Rice, his wife Janay, and their children. They are actually in New Rochelle, New Jersey, the old school, his high school team where he used to play, where he was a superstar there in New York, New Rochelle, New York. And they are making a public appearance, their first since all of this went down. And we're going to bring you a lot more. We have a correspondent there Alexandra Field monitoring the situation, and she'll get some more details on why he's there and what he's trying to do for the image. You can see putting on a family front.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

FEYERICK: Well, he's out of a job and he's facing a lot of criticism, but former Baltimore Ravens running back Ray Rice is in his hometown right now. He's at his high school football game, all after being suspended from the NFL after that video of him punching his wife in an elevator went viral.

CNN's Alexandra Field joins us live from New Rochelle, New York. And Alexandra, what is going on. You spoke to the principal. Why is Ray Rice there today?

FIELD: Sure, Deb. There were rumors he was going to show up at this game. No one was certain. The principal told me he was not aware of Ray Rice being invited here, and I asked if Ray Rice would be welcomed here, and he said to me this high school remains his home. Rice was a star player here, first time all-state player.

Just this past week, the high school sent a pretty strong message. They took his picture down off the wall of fame. They also removed his Ravens' jersey from the gymnasium, the principal here saying that it was important to recognize the severity of the act that so many people saw play out on the videotape that we've all seen from inside the elevator, that it was really important to acknowledge that. A letter went out district-wide talking about the fact the school does not condone acts of physical violence.

But, Deborah, a few things have happened here in the past week or so. We have seen students print out a picture that they posted back up on that wall of fame in the spot where way Ray Rice's photograph had at one point hung. I asked the principal about that, and he said, you know, obviously, there are students who continue to support Rice, are proud of what he did for the school, proud of his professional accomplishments.

There were also these rumors that the school would return Rice's jersey to the gymnasium wall, return that official portrait to the wall of fame, and the principal tome me that that remains a possibility. Since schools are places where it's important to honor accomplishments, which is what they did with Ray Rice, but also places where lessons need to be taught, this said that this could ultimately be a lesson about redemption, about repairing and apologizing for mistakes that have been made.

So while the school is not replacing those images, it does remain a possibility. Right now, though, Ray Rice has decided to come out here to the football game. He's watching on the sidelines. His wife is here with him. We have not had an opportunity to get close to him. We don't know if he will speak to us or not, but he has been right up there on the sidelines cheering on the team where he really became a star in the football world, Deb.

FEYERICK: And you can see his wife there. His wife Janay is wearing the gray sweatshirt. She's got a black hat on and a bag draped over her. Ray Rice is to the left of the screen. He's wearing a black hat, the diamond earrings there. He didn't lead his team at the high school to the state championship back in 2003. Alex, do you see any extra security there? Has the crowd even realized that he's there?

FIELD: You know, when we got here, we did see a couple of police cruisers that had been milling about, probably that isn't exactly out of the ordinary when it comes to having a big crowd come to a football game. There were rumors he might show up. We have also seen security here at the game, which, again, can't tell if that is something that is particularly out of the ordinary. The press is being kept over here. The media is being kept over on the sideline where I'm standing. Rice came in on the opposite sideline back there. We didn't hear the crowd in audible way when he walked in. In fact the principal pointed it out to me, oh, you know, Rice just slipped in. And he's been over at the sidelines, not really creating much of a distraction.

I did also ask the principle, is there any intention here to show support for Ray Rice? Should this be construed in any way as any effort the school is making to honor him in any capacity? The principal said, no, that is not the case. He just reiterated the fact that is someone who went to the high school. He achieved a lot professionally after he left this high school. This is still considered his home by the principal. He said that he is welcome here, but this is not at all about supporting Ray Rice in any way or condoning the awful act that we all saw inside that elevator, just the knowledge that he's welcomed to come here if he'd like to, and it's still unclear whether he was invited here or he just felt that he should come here. FEYERICK: It's interesting, because there you see him as a family man

who is there with his wife. He's there with his two young kids. Was there any controversy between either the principal or the coach as to whether in fact he should be there, because it's not a coincidence that he's there and, frankly, so is the press?

FIELD: You know what, Deb, it certainly sounds like from my conversation from the principal that there was no effort by the principal to say he shouldn't be here. That was never the message that was sent to him. He continues to be welcomed to be here just like anyone else who is here in the crowd today supporting the team as they face off against another high school. He is with his wife. She's been out this very visibly, very publicly supporting him.

You know, I think they probably expected that there would be cameras here today because it was, you know, a rumor that was out there that he would show up. He probably anticipated, given the proximity to New York City, that the press would get here, that cameras would be here, that the two of them would be photographed on the sidelines. It has yet to be seen whether or not he makes himself available to comment on everything that has transpired this week from the permanent suspension or the indefinite suspension from the NFL to being removed from the team. That is something we have not been able to talk to him about. His wife has been out there supporting him, but everyone I think wants to hear from Ray Rice right now. We don't know yet if this is the opportunity to do that.

FEYERICK: You know, and it's interesting watching them, obviously, there people who are milling about in front of them, but Janay Palmer at the time, and Ray Rice, they knew each other when they were teenagers. She was just 16 years old. They did attend Rutgers University, overlapped there. So it's interesting to see them together. It's interesting to see whether, in fact, this is the attempt to rehabilitate the image and to show them. We're going to stay on this, and Alexandra Field, thanks so much for hustling out there to New Rochelle. We're going to check back with you in just a short time.

And thanks, everyone, for spending part of your Saturday here with us. We appreciate it. We'll see you in the next couple of hours. I'm Deborah. CNN MONEY starts right after a short break.

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