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CNN NEWSROOM

Two New York City Police Officers Gunned Down in Patrol Car; North Korea Accusing U.S. Government of Being Behind the Movie "The Interview"; Police Officers Turned Their Back to Mayor Bill de Blasio

Aired December 21, 2014 - 15:00   ET

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


(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This was a cold-blooded assassination like we haven't seen before.

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RANDI KAYE, CNN ANCHOR: Two of New York's finest gunned down. Today more on the man police say pulled the trigger and could this deadly ambush have been prevented?

Also breaking today, North Korea ups the ante claiming the U.S. government was involved in making that movie "the interview." and threatening an even worse cyber attack.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Hi, Candy. How are you?

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KAYE: And an exclusive interview with President Obama. Nothing is off limits. How will the White House respond to North Korea's escalating threats? Hear it all right now.

You're in the CNN NEWSROOM.

Hello, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. We begin this hour in New York. A stunning ambush in broad daylight. Two police officers murdered, shot and killed in their police cruiser. New York police are expected to hold a news conference in about an hour or so. At 4:00 p.m. eastern time we will bring that to you live.

It comes after a day of shock for New York. Newspapers calling it an execution, and tensions are mounting between police and the city's leadership. We are covering every angle of this story, including an interview with former New York mayor Rudy Giuliani.

Alexandra Field is in New York. Erin McPike live in Baltimore where police say the suspect shot his ex-girlfriend. And Michelle Kosinski covering the reaction from the president and his administration from Hawaii for us.

First, Alexander Field takes us through what happened in New York.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Hundreds of police officers united in grief in a salute for two of their own.

WILLIAM BRATTON, NEW YORK POLICE COMMISSIONER: Today two of New York's finest was shot and killed with no warning, no provocation. They were quite simply assassinated.

FIELD: With those words, a visibly shaken New York police commissioner, alongside New York's mayor, talking about the deaths of Officer Rafael Ramos and Officer Wenjian Liu. Liu, a seven-year veteran, married two months ago. Ramos, a two-year veteran, turned 40 this month. He was married with a 13-year-old son. They were killed, ambush-style, Saturday afternoon as they sat in their patrol car on a Brooklyn street.

The suspect who has been identified as 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley walked township the police car. He took a shooting stance on the passenger side and fired the weapon -- his weapon several times through the front passenger window striking both officers in the head.

Officer Liu and Officer Ramos never had the opportunity to draw their weapons. They may never have actually even seen their assailant, their murder.

FIELD: Police say officers chased Ismaaiyl Brinsley to a nearby subway station where he reportedly shot himself to death on the train platform.. A semiautomatic handgun was recovered near the body.

Brinsley arrived in New York from Baltimore But had a residence near Atlanta and apparently had connections to Brooklyn. Police say earlier in the day, her shot and serious wounded woman believed to be his ex-girlfriend in Baltimore.

Police there received information that Brinsley has made threatening comments about, least on social media sites, and they sent a warning to officers in New York but that message came almost at the same time the ambush happened.

MAYOR BILL DE BLASIO, NEW YORK: These officers were shot execution- style. Particularly despicable act which goes at the very heart of our society and our democracy when a police officer is murdered. It tears at the foundation of our society.

FIELD: New York police say there's no indication Brinsley was connected to any terrorist group.

PATRICK LYNCH, PRESIDENT, PATROLMEN'S BENEVOLENT ASSOCIATION: There's blood on many hands tonight.

FIELD: The deaths of two officers have highlighted mounting tensions between police union officials and the mayor who they accuse of putting officers' lives at risk with his support for recent protests, involving the Eric Garner chokehold death and the police shooting of Michael Brown.

LYNCH: Those that in sighted violence on this street under the guise of protest that tried to tear down what New York City police officers did every day. We tried to warn it must not go on. It cannot be tolerated. That blood on their hands starts on the steps of city hall in the office of the mayor.

FIELD: And in an apparent show of defiance, police officers gathered at the hospital where the explain officers were taken, turned their backs on the mayor as he entered for Saturday's press conference.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Alexander Field joins me live at a growing memorial for the slain officers. A vigil will be held later tonight as we understand it.

Alexander, there has been a lot of reaction to this. What else are you hearing there on the streets today?

FIELD: It really just that the emotions are so raw. The reality of what happened out here on this street corner in broad daylight so gut- wrenching that yes, there are people who want to point finger, there are people who want to plays blame, but there are also a lot of people who know that there is simply no sense to be made of this. Those are some of the people who are coming out here, and they're laying these flowers, and they're lighting these candles and they are leaving these signs there, the ones who are asking for peace and for people to take a moment and to honor the fallen heroes.

Two NYPD officers this lost their live. It's a message that we heard from some local city leaders who came out here. We have also seen police commissioner Bratton. He came out here a short while ago and says he has been in close contact with a family, of both of these officers. And before that, we saw secretary of homeland security Jeh Johnson. Native New Yorkers said that he wanted to come here. He wanted to pay tribute. He wanted to honor these two men who lost their lives here, Randi.

KAYE: And Alexandra, where does the investigation stand, the police investigation?

FIELD: We are expecting to hear more from NYPD officials just a little bit later this afternoon. At this point, though, sources are telling CNN that they have taken some steps forward in the investigation. They are, of course, looking closely at the social media history of the suspect here, Brinsley. That was their first clue that he had intended to attack officers.

They are now saying that they found his cell phone. It wasn't on him when they found him in the subway after he died at that self-inflicted gunshot wound. But they say they have that cell phone now. And that will be key to tracing his steps before he arrived out here on this corner where he unleashed a truly horrific attack.

Police say they believed that he brought that cell phone from Baltimore, Maryland and that he may have actually stolen it from the ex-girlfriend who he is also accused of shooting, Randi.

KAYE: All right. Alexandra Field, thanks very much.

The violence came to a head in New York, but it may have started several hours away as we were just hearing in Baltimore. The New York police commissioner says Ismaaiyl Brinsley shot a woman believed to be his ex-girlfriend.

Erin McPike joins me live now from that woman's apartment just outside Baltimore.

Erin, what are police saying there today?

ERIN MCPIKE, CNN GENERAL ASSIGNMENT CORRESPONDENT: Randi, police are saying that they believe Brinsley had no other connection to this area other than this woman. Her name is Shaniqua Nicole Thompson. She's 29 years old, and she lives here alone in this apartment complex where neighbors heard gunshots around 6:00 a.m. on Saturday and called police.

Police say they believe that Brinsley shot Thompson in the stomach. She's in critical but stable condition right now. And police have not been able to interview her just yet. But New York detectives are on their way, and they hope to interview her later sometime today, if not tomorrow.

Now, police believe as Alexandra mentioned, that Brinsley stole Thompson's cell phone, and that was how they were able to trace him to New York through those threats that he made on Instagram. Police also say that they believe he used the same 0.9 millimeter semiautomatic handgun here that he later used in Brooklyn, Randi.

KAYE: And in terms of a warning, two New York police, what do we know about any type of warning that Baltimore police sent New York's way?

MCPIKE: Well, Randi, around 1:30 p.m. yesterday, one of Thompson's friends alerted Baltimore county police to some of these threats on Thompson's Instagram feed. Well, obviously, Baltimore police soon were checking that out. And by 2:10 yesterday afternoon, Baltimore police called the New York police department. They also sent this wanted flyer we have here for you right now. They faxed that. That had images of Brinsley on it.

KAYE: And what do we know about Brinsley's criminal history?

MCPIKE: Well, he has been arrested some nine times since 2004. None of them are here in this area. The bulk of them were in Georgia. They included marijuana possession, battery, disorderly conduct and carrying a concealed weapons. So, obviously a very troubled person, Randi.

KAYE: Erin McPike, thank you very much for the update from there.

America's top cop, Attorney General Eric Holder is weighing in on the killing of those New York officers as is President Barack Obama.

White House correspondent Michelle Kosinski is with the president as he is vacationing in Hawaii.

Michelle, what are the attorney general and the president saying about this?

MICHELLE KOSINSKI, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hi, Randi. Right. I'm sure the president felt he really needed to respond to this, vacation or no, considering how much he and his administration have been involved in trying to ease these tensions between law enforcement and communities.

And -- so shortly after the shooting happened, we started seeing statements coming out from the highest levels. First, from attorney general Eric Holder, saying this cowardly attack underscores a dangers that are routinely faced by those who protect and serve their fellow citizens. Our nation must always honor the valor and sacrifices of all law enforcement officers with a steadfast commitment to keeping them safe.

Then from President Obama. Two brave loved ones will not be going home to their love ones tonight and for that there is no justification. The officers who serve and protect our communities risk their own safety for ours every single day, and they deserve our respect and gratitude every single day.

And in his statement, President Obama said that he unconditionally condemn the shooting, and urges the Americans to reject violence and turn to healing and prayer, patient dialogue, and sympathy for all those affected, Randi.

KAYE: Michelle Kosinski in Honolulu with the president. Michelle, thank you very much.

North Korea is accusing the U.S. government of being behind the movie "the Interview." And it is vowing revenge. Hear what the communist regime says it's going to do to the U.S. coming next.

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KAYE: North Korea is leveling new accusations and threats at the U.S. over the cyber attack on Sony pictures. Today it claimed the U.S. government is hinted the making of the movie "the Interview."

In a statement released on state media, the communist regime says quote "the DPRK has clear evidence that the U.S. administration was deeply involved in the making of such dishonest reactionary movie."

And it warns of new devastating cyber attacks saying this, "our toughest counter action will be boldly taken against the White House, the Pentagon, and the whole U.S. mainland, the cesspool of terrorism."

All the controversy surrounding the release of the Sony movie, "the Interview" is generating a lot of interest in the film. Many people, of course, really want to see the movie. And now it looks like they might be able to.

Here's what the attorney for Sony pictures entertainment had to say today on NBC's "Meet the Press."

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DAVID BOIES, LAWYER, SONY PICTURES ENTERTAINMENT: And remember, Sony only delayed this. Sony has been fighting to get this picture distributed. It will be distributed. How it's going to be distributed nobody knows quite yet, but it's going to be distributed.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: Joining me now from New York, CNN senior media correspondent and host of "RELIABLE SOURCES" Brian Stelter.

All right, so Brian, let's talk about this. I mean, how likely is it that Sony will make good on this promise and deliver the movie?

BRIAN STELTER, CNN SENIOR MEDIA CORRESPONDENT: It is looking pretty likely and I said it was a copy of because Sony needs help. So says at least it needs partners, some sort of company or number of companies to step forward and agree to take this on.

Sony does own a couple of distribution route itself. And we should keep that in mind. I don't know what they called (INAUDIBLE) where you can stream free TV episode. It is kind of like Hulu or Netflix. But it doesn't have a way to pay for those episodes. So, you know, you wouldn't be able to buy the movie there. And Sony really believe that it needs to go to charge for this movie in order to recoup some of the budget.

They also have the PlayStation store. You know, if you have a PlayStation video game console, you can buy movies or rent movies through that system. There's no word on why they aren't going that route. But I think Sony is looking for partners here, like a Netflix or You Tube or movie theater chain, so that it spreads out some of the risk. And so, that it shows that they're not in this alone. My sense is that there is discussions going on this weekend with potential distributors. But nobody has signed up yet. Nobody has agreed to do it yet. Maybe that is because they too are concerned about being hacked or being targeted in some way.

KAYE: That sounds the same. I mean, some people think, well, maybe that's good PR, you know, for Netflix or Hulu or whoever might picks this up, but it's also pretty risky, right?

STELTER: You know, it's easy for people like me to sit here and say this movie needs to be seen. This movie needs to be in theaters or needs to be online. It's a lot harder to be the guy or little girl that owns the company that is actually going to go ahead and make that happen. Because they are assuming some of the risk.

Even if the risk is very far-fetched. They still know they're absorbing some of the risk. And it is still coming this climate of concern and fear about these hackers throughout.

And about now, as we are describing this North Korean regime's threats, to hear the North Koreans say this movie should not be seen by anyone, you know, it's wild because it sounds a lot like what the hackers have been saying before. North Korea as a government is still denying that they were responsible for this. But what they are saying sounds a lot like what the hackers are saying.

KAYE: Yes. Certainly, the Hollywood hot potato, you know. Nobody want to touch it.

STELTER: It is. Definitely what it. It is just so strange because this is not a movie that was going to do very well to begin with, you know. I don't think anyone imagine a Seth Rogen comedy would become so controversial.

KAYE: Absolutely. Brian Stelter, nice to see you. Thank you.

STELTER: You too. Thanks.

KAYE: Meanwhile, the war of words has broken out following the killing of two New York City police officers. CNN's law enforcement analyst on a crumbling relationship between police and city hall.

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KAYE: New York is a city in mourning today. Two police officers ambushed, shot and killed while sitting in their patrol car in Brooklyn. Some newspapers are calling it an execution. Tensions mounting between the police and the city's leadership now as well.

Police union saying Mayor Bill de Blasio has blood on his hands for supporting the recent protests. Brooklyn's borough president, a former officer himself, has asked that people hold off on any more police protests until after the officers are buried.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has also ordered flags at state buildings to be flown at half staff.

And we'll be bringing you live coverage of a New York City police department press conference. That will be coming your way at 4:00 p.m. eastern time. They are expected to give a full update on the investigation into these killings.

So, has the relationship between city hall and the police force been eri-probably (ph) damage?

Tom Fuentes joins me now from Washington. He is CNN law enforcement analyst and a former assistant director of the FBI.

So Tom, from the police union to former mayor Rudy Giuliani, some are pointing to public officials saying that they supported the protests and fed this kind of violence. Talk to me a little bit about the level of police frustration right now that we're seeing.

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Hi, Randi.

I think the police are very frustrated. And they felt and they have been saying really since the speeches that were made following the Eric Garner grand jury decision that they've been saying that the mayor threw them under the bus. That's how the police feel about it. And they feel that, you know, that as the protesters began, that it was OK to say, you know, people are exercising their first amendment rights and didn't have a problem with it.

But you have seen a steady escalation and the mood against the police in the times that the protest have been going at. So, as they started out very peacefully, then they turned into going into businesses and having die-ins, then stopping traffic. And then, you know, the most recent you saw the video of the police officers being struck in the face. And he could have just as easily been stabbed in the face or shot in the face or anything else.

And, you know, the police are saying, wait a minute. You know, you're putting us out here in front of, yes, generally peaceful protesters, but you know human nature and past experience shows that hooligans are going to get in the middle of that group and attack the police if they can. And they'll attack with whatever they can, whether it's bare knuckles or a knife or a gun or bottles or bricks.

And you know, enough of trying to, you know, those criticism of police wearing body armored and protective gear. They wear protective gear because people will attack them. And they're vulnerable. And police were very frustrated with that.

And then, you know, the final thing was the altercation on the Brooklyn Bridge with the two lieutenants that were kicked and beaten and ended up in the emergency room as a result of it.

So yes, the tensions have become extreme, and the police feel that the mayor is not backing them up.

KAYE: So in this case, though, the case of a lone Wolf attacker, I mean, is this the most dangerous kind of situation for police to handle?

FUENTES: It's always the most dangerous. You could be ambushed, and there are so many different ways to ambush a police officer. It's not even funny. The training you go through, having in a street cop for six years, the vulnerability in a traffic stop, the vulnerability of going into someone's home for a domestic disturbance or a firefighter, down a dark alley, you know. That the danger is extreme, and it's all the time. And when you have this kind of attackers, it is virtually unstoppable.

KAYE: Let me ask you quickly about, and it is a procedural question. We know that Baltimore police say they faxed and they called in a warning about the shooter that was headed to the Brooklyn area from Baltimore. Are law enforcement agencies still struggling with communication issues in 2014 or was this the appropriate notice?

FUENTES: Well, I think the question was in Baltimore how fast their investigation unfolded. You know, they have a woman that's been shot. They're investigating that. I think they interviewed her mother and neighbors, and they were gradually were able to start putting together more and more information. And then realized that her cell phone had been stolen which enabled the police then to track, you know, the electronic signals of the phone which give location to the phone company, and then you have the Instagrams that went out. By the time they pieced all that together, and sound the alert up to New York, New York NYPD receives the message about the time that the actual shootings were taken place.

But I would like to add one more thing. What if NYPD received the notice one hour, two hours, three hours earlier. They didn't have a vehicle description. They didn't have a lot of description of what the subject was wearing.

KAYE: Right. So in other words, what could they have done?

FUENTES: Well, what would they have done if they were aggressive on the streets and started stopping every black male in the neighborhood?

KAYE: Right. Well, that's what a lot of them are saying now, you know. What would we have done even if we had known.

FUENTES: Exactly. And that's true.

KAYE: Yes, absolutely. Thank you very much. Always nice to see you.

FUENTES: Thank you, Randi.

KAYE: So the scene was frantic there. In a moment after the gunshots went off, harrowing cell phone video shows exactly what it looked like as police and paramedics rushed to the scene. We'll show you that video coming up.

But, first, our look into the future. Today how American farmers will use technology to grow our foot. Here's Richard Quest.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

RICHARD QUEST, CNN CORRESPONDENT: From the time man first tilled the earth, man has been involved with long days and back-breaking work. Today achieving that bountiful harvest is not just about working harder no. It's more about working smarter, and now technology is arming farmers with the information and the ability to do just that.

JOE HUSTLE, FARMER: Years ago I worked all fall and now we're doing what I did all fall in about two days.

QUEST: Farmers like Joe Hustle are taking full advantage of the technology available.

HUSTLE: Our yields are getting color-coded in right here on this stage here.

QUEST: Today, sensor technology is used all over the farm. It provides real-time information about everything from fuel levels to the soil fertility.

HUSTLE: We're much more aware of what we have in the fields. This information that we have received from all of our technologies basically put money in our bank accounts. In the future technology will give farmers better data. By giving

them a better view from drones like this precision hawk. Its ability to map the terrain will provide farmers more valuable information than ever before. So tomorrow's farmers will need to work the data even harder than they work the field.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: Bottom of the hour now. Welcome back, everyone. I'm Randi Kaye. Here are the top stories we're following.

North Korea is telling the United States more cyber attacks are coming, and they warn the hacks will dwarf the attack on Sony pictures. In a statement released today on state media, the communist regime accuses the U.S. government of being deeply evolved in the movie "the Interview." And while it still denies taking part in the Sony attack, it now vows to stage cyber attacks on the White House, the Pentagon, and the whole U.S. mainland.

A memorial to the Americans who served in World War I will be built. It was approved by President Obama, and it will be built one block from the White House. Nearly five million men and women served during the war. More than 100,000 were killed. A privately funded contest will be held to choose the design.

America's best skier, well, she had another fall this morning. Lindsey Vonn is just back to competition after a serious knee injury, and today's fall happened at a world cup event in France. She fell. She suffered a slight elbow injury, but she is OK. That's the good news.

And here is more good news. Vonn says that her knee is actually alright.

Flags are flying at half staff in New York today after two police officers were shot and killed in their police cruiser. Police are expected to get an update on the investigation about 30 minutes or so. We'll bring that to you live. And we have also learned that President Obama called the New York police commissioner today to express his condolences.

A candlelight vigil will be held tonight at the shooting scene. And we are also expected to hear from Officer Rafael Ramos' family in about an hour and a half.

Nick Valencia is following the story and he joins me now. So, what have we learned today?

NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We've learned that Wenjian Liu, he is one of those officers that were shot and killed, as well as Rafael Ramos, they had a combined nine-and-a-half years on the police force. Today, officers and colleagues in New York and beyond are mourning their loss. Here's a look at the timeline how far it all happened.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA (voice-over): The shooter's onslaught of terror began Saturday morning just before 6:00 a.m. in Baltimore, Maryland. Police say 28-year-old Ismaaiyl Brinsley shot and injured his ex-girlfriend in her apartment hours before he would kill two New York police officers.

Police say one of the last posts he put on social media was this. I always wanted to be known for doing something right, he said, but my past is stalking me, and my present is haunting me.

The post followed with another ominous warning. I'm putting wings on pigs today, he wrote. They take one of ours. Let's take two of theirs.

Police say the post were flagged by authorities in Baltimore, but a message to be on alert in New York was just too late. At 2:47 p.m. without warning or provocation, Brinsley walked up to the patrol car of New York police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

BRATTON: While sitting in a marked NYPD police car in full uniform, police were ambushed and murdered in front of 98 (INAUDIBLE) avenue (INAUDIBLE) in Brooklyn, New York City.

VALENCIA: Liu and Ramos never had a chance to draw their weapons. They were rushed to the hospital where they were later pronounced dead. Immediately after the shooting nearby officers gave chase following Brinsley into a subway station.

BRATTON: While on the (INAUDIBLE) Brinsley, he shot himself in the head, took his own life.

VALENCIA: Police recovered a silver semiautomatic from the shooter which they say was used in the killings.

Saturday night at the hospital, more tense moments. New York mayor Bill de Blasio shows up to pay his respects. And while walking past a row of police, officers turned their backs demonstrating their anger towards a mayor that they say cheers part of the blame for officers' death.

LYNCH: There's blood on many hands tonight. That blood on their hands starts on the steps of city hall in the office of the mayor.

VALENCIA: For the family of slain office Rafael Ramos, the focus was not on blame, but on grief.

Late Saturday, Ramos's 13-year-old son wrote this on Facebook.

Today I had to say bye to my father. I will always love you and I will never forget you.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

VALENCIA: New York police department Commissioner Bill Bratton did send a message to those on the force reading in part, may God grant Wenjian Liu and Officer Rafael Ramos rest. And to all members of the service, be safe -- Randi.

KAYE: Well, terrible story. All right. Nick Valencia, thank you very much for the update on that.

And now, I want to bring in on the phone, the Brooklyn Borough president Eric Adams.

Eric, nice to chat with you. I know that you were a captain in the NYPD, served in the New York state senate as well. What is your take on the shooting and everything that has happened since?

ERIC ADAMS, PRESIDENT BROOKLYN BOROUGH (via phone): It is extremely one of the most difficult encounters. Those of us who are former or active police officers, it truly is traumatizes you. But again, the pathway of that bullet doesn't stop when it takes a life of the officers. The trajectory continues throughout that entire community impacted and traumatized as well. This is an attack on public safety.

KAYE: Can you explain for us what a police officer feels when one of their own is killed? I mean, something that civilians really can't understand.

ADAMS: It knocks the wind out of you, you know. Even as you get dressed to start your tour of duty and you put on damn vest, you realize that you are walking into an environment across the countries where that it's not, you know, assured that you will return to your family safe to your family. And sometimes, we think that police officers, all of a sudden when they wear a uniform, that they are no longer humans, but they are. They have children, they have loved ones. It was just read, they start talking about that kid his dad again. I think about my 18-year-old, and I thought about him throughout my career.

But I had a brother that was a sergeant in police departments, and several cousins. One who is still there. And whenever I heard that a cop was shot or injured, I would immediately think of them and hope that they are OK, and that's the reality of this profession.

KAYE: So we saw today in that video, you could see the officers -- some of the officers, at least, turning their back on Mayor Bill de Blasio as he walk through there. Was that the right thing to do, and what do you make of that reaction?

ADAMS: Well, police in the uniform, the union, representatives, they're all symbols of public safety. The mayor of the city of New York is not merely an individual. He is the symbol of the people of the city. We can never turn our backs on each other because those symbols must always be married to each other to assure that the thing we call public safety continues on.

There are too many bad guys taking shots at good guys for us to take shots at each other, and so I'm hoping that both the police union and the members and the mayor's office were able to turn this painful situation into a purpose. A purpose of protecting police officers and protecting the public to the best of our abilities, and I think we can do that. KAYE: There's so much anger right now in part because of the protests

we've seen all over the country, whether it is related to Michael Brown or it was related to Eric Garner and the chokehold case there in Brooklyn. How do you turn that around? I mean, how do you start to bring people around to respect the officers again? And of course, it is not everybody. But how do you stop some of that hate and that anger?

ADAMS: I think we should be proud of what has taken place here in New York. I'm concerned about what took place in St. Louis because of the violence. We should be constructive and not destructive. And I think that here in New York City, people have really participated in what is the American foundation. The right to protest the right, and they have done it in a peaceful manner. It's where two lieutenants were attacked and arrests were made in that situation. But for the most part people were talking about reform, not harm to police officers.

There were no call of retribution, of violence. It was a real concern about the direction that the country has taken over traffic police practices. And we should not believe that this is a mixed up of the two, a sick mind took the life of two innocent officers. Those are not sick minds who are marching. They're the grandchildren of the civil rights movement that believe America is better than having innocent people lose their lives.

KAYE: And from what I understand, you are planning to attend the vigil tonight. Will that help the community heal? What do you hope to see there?

ADAMS: Yes. I think so. I think that many people believe that the mourning process is isolated just to the men and women of law enforcement communities. Nothing can be threaten from the two. Of the campus number of people who walk by that area and place flowers or just pray because they understand that police officers play a vital role. They are the arm of public safety.

And I'm hoping tonight to give the countless number of people who call or emailed me and asked can they do something to show that they, too, are mourning with the family, I'm hoping tonight we give them an opportunity to do so. That's why we call the vigil. We wanted the family to know that we stand with them during this time of pain, and we wanted our law enforcement community to know that our concerns of making policing better in America is no way stated that officers like these two officers are not respected and appreciated.

KAYE: Eric Adams, really appreciate your thoughts and appreciate you talking with us today. Thank you.

Next, CNN's exclusive year-end interview with President Obama.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN HOST, "STATE OF THE UNION": Do you think this was an act of war by North Korea?

OBAMA: No, I don't think it was an act of war. I think it was an act of cyber vandalism that was very costly, very expensive.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

KAYE: What else did the president tell CNN's Candy Crowley?

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

KAYE: North Korea is now threatening massive cyber attacks on the White House and the Pentagon computers. President Obama sat down with Candy Crowley and reacted to Sony disagreeing with hem for saying Sony made a mistake in cancelling the policemen's release.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OBAMA: I was pretty sympathetic to a fact that they got this consideration they got to make. And you know, had had they talked to me directly about this decision, I might have called the movie theater chains and distributors and asked them what the story was. But what I was laying out was a principle that I this country has to abide by.

We believe in free speech. We believe in the right of artistic expression and satire and things that powers that might not like, and if we set a precedent in which a dictator in another country can disrupt through cyber, you know, a company's distribution chain or its products. And as a consequence we start censoring ourselves, that's a problem, and it's a problem not just for the entertainment industry. It's a problem for the news injury.

CNN has done critical stories about North Korea. What happens if, in fact, there's a breach in CNN's, you know, cyberspace? Are they going to say, well, we better not report on North Korea.

So the key here is not to suggest that Sony was a bad actor. It's making a broader point that all of us have to adapt to the possibility of cyber attacks. We have to do a lot more to guard against them. My administration has taken a lot of strides in that direction, but we need Congress to pass a cyber security law. We have to work with the private sector, and the private sector has to work together to harden their sites. But in the meantime, when there's a breach, we have to go after the wrong doers. We can't change how we operate.

CROWLEY: I wonder if it was fear of lawsuit as opposed to fear of North Korea, but there's a threat that people are saying if something happens here, I'm done. It's over.

OBAMA: You know, that's possible. But look, as I said, the Boston marathon suffered an actual grievous attack that killed and maimed a number of people. And that next year, we had a successful Boston marathon as we have ever had. You know, sometimes this is a matter of setting a tone and being be clear that we're not going to be intimidated by some, you know, cyber hackers, and I expect all of us to remember that and operate on that base is going forward.

CROWLEY: Do you think this was an act of war by North Korea?

OBAMA: No, I don't think it was an act of war. I think it was act of cyber vandalism that was very costly, very expensive. We take it very seriously. We will respond proportionately as I said. But, you know, we are going to be on this environment in this world where so much is digitalized that both state and non-state actors are going to have the capacity to disrupt our lives in all sort of ways.

We have to do a much better job of guarding against that. We have to treat it like we would treat the incidents of crime in our countries. When other countries are sponsoring, we take it very seriously. But that is something that I think we can manage through as long as public/private sector is working together.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: Still ahead, we saw Rudy Giuliani guide New York City through the most trying time after 9/11. We will hear from him next on the shootings in New York.

And we are also waiting for a live update from the New York police department. We'll take you there as soon as that begins as well.

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KAYE: Welcome back. New York City police are expected to give an update on two police officers who were shot and killed in their police cruiser.

Meanwhile, we are waiting for Rudy Giuliani. By the way, we are waiting for that presser to begin right there where you see that empty podium.

But just a reminder, Giuliani served as mayor from 1994 through 2001. His police department was known for decreasing the crime rate, but was criticized for racial profiling of blacks and Latinos. And here is what he told CNN earlier today about the ambush killing of those two police officers.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

RUDY GIULIANI, FORMER NEW YORK CITY MAYOR: It's an overreaction for people to say that the blood of these police officers are on the mayor's hands. That is not true. I lost police officers. The mayor have lost police officers. That's a very, very damaging thing to say and it shouldn't be said.

Nor do I think the police officer should turn their back on them. My heart goes out to the Mayor de Blasio and Bill Bratton. There is no question that they didn't want to see something like this happen. And I am sure they're going to learn from this and they are going to make some changes.

But the part where I do disagree with the mayor is the way he policed the protest. He let the protests get out of control. They should have designated areas where they can protest and the city can move ahead as normal.

On his side, he should admit that some of his policies are wrong and that some of his lack of support for the police maybe came from not understanding policing. This is enormously emotional and it is a horrible act. And there is no way to explain the grief. And maybe, just maybe, it will just people on different perspective on the police that they have been given over the last four months where all of this protests.

This sound of like insane man who is going to commit murder. He and all these other people who are on the country starting with the president and the attorney general, with all this anti police rhetoric are creating a misimpression and in fact, they are engaging in propaganda, the reality is that the police kill very few people.

Killings take place among citizens. There is a heavy amount of black on black crime. There is also white on white crime. Those are the things that have to be dealt with. I think most people realize including people in the black community, Hispanic community, white community, it doesn't matter any community, they all want more police. And they all realize that most of our police officers are not just good people, they're heroes.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

KAYE: And we are just minutes way from the NYPD press conference. They will update the investigation into the shooting of those two police officers.

Tom Fuentes is joining me now from Washington to talk a little bit more about this. He is CNN law enforcement analyst and a former assistant director of the FBI.

Tom, the chief of detectives is supposed to be speaking at this press conference, Robert Boyce. What do you expect that we will hear from him?

FUENTES: I think we will hear, Randi, that you know, the progress of the investigation, what they're trying to do, how the police are reacting and conducting business throughout the city. I think he will detail some of those activities of the department.

KAYE: What are investigators doing right now? I mean, there are certainly a trail as far as we understand it, at least from Baltimore to New York. What are they doing right now to try to figure out this suspect's path and what may have led him to do something so horrific?

FUENTES: Well, obviously, they will be, you know, looking at whatever other social media and cell phone content he may have had. Now, we know in this case that once he shot his ex-girlfriend, he stole her phone and they were able to track that phone to track him all the way back to Brooklyn, New York. But they will be trying to see if he has had other phones, other communications, emails, has he told anybody, other friends or relatives about his attitudes or intensions or what he was going to do or, you know, this thing started out the you just wanted to kill his girlfriend. And then maybe once he did that, decided to go up and kill police officers. So they will try the best they can to look into all of that. But they may not ever get the final answers. KAYE: And his social media profile, I mean, would that be important

to try and figure out where this guy ahead with that?

FUENTES: Yes, certainly. You know, normally in these investigations, you see an evolution of attitude and sometimes intentions following the back trail of. And even though, people think that they can delete their information all of their accounts, they really can't.

So when law enforcement presents the company with subpoenas for the past information, then they can go back and see previous postings and look at, you know, what's been said by that person and then as well as to who. You know, who else might be involved with him is absolutely a loan person acting on his own or other people involved.

And again, the police not only have to worry about the evidence in this case but they also have to look at, you know, now is there going to be other people trying to do that. I got information from police officer, friends of mine in New York that last night, somebody removed the (INAUDIBLE) police officer's personal car parked at the police parking lot and the police vehicle so that one of the wheels fell off.

They have another incident last night in New York where a subject was shooting at the windows and street lights near one of the projects. The police responded. He pointed the gun at the police but it was empty and they apprehended him without shooting him. He was taken into custody. And they intercept at another social media posting from an individual in Tennessee who said he's on his way to New York to kill cops, about going to get two more, I think it is how we put it. And that person has been apprehended.

So that is the fear now of a lot of people that this may have unleash kind of a wave of copy cats or wannabes that want to take on the police. And as I said earlier, the violence against the police has been increasing during the nights of this protest, the recent protests.

KAYE: Yes. It is a horrible time for them. And they are already making some security changes as we understand it. And here at CNN, they are taking their unarmed officers off the streets already.

So Tom Fuentes, stick around because we are probably want to talk to you a little bit about this press conference after we hear what it says there as you see it there. People are getting ready. Media is gathered. And we are waiting for this chief and detective Robert Boyce to take the podium there. We are just minutes away from that press conference in New York. And we are hoping to get the update on the investigations into the shootings of these two police officers.

We are going to take a very quick break and we will take you there next.

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