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Gunman Kills Nine in South Carolina in Church Shooting; Interview with Cousin of Church Shooting Victim; Interview with Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana. Aired 8-8:30a ET

Aired June 18, 2015 - 08:00   ET

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


[08:00:00] NICK VALENCIA, CNN ANCHOR: Police have been saying they believe this gunman sat for an hour while a bible study session was underway. We can confirm to you, among the nine killed is a state senator, also a pastor here, Clementa Pinckney. He is the only confirmed casually so far. Eight others, three men, six women among those killed at a press conference a short time ago. Police chief here in Charleston talked about what he knew.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

GREGORY MULLEN, CHARLESTON POLICE CHIEF: Last night at approximately 9:05 the Charleston County Consolidated Dispatch received a call for a shooting that occurred at the Emmanuel AME church on Calvin Street in downtown Charleston. Charleston police units were immediately dispatched and arrived at that location. When we did, we initially identified eight victims inside of the church that had suffered gunshot wounds. Earlier we told you that there were two victims that were transported to MUSC. There was actually one victim that was transported to MUSC, and that individual is deceased as well. So we have a total of nine victims that were involved in this very tragic situation.

JOSEPH P. RILEY JR., CHARLESTON MAYOR: The quality of work of our law enforcement agencies has been inspiring. This is an unfathomable and unspeakable act by somebody filled with hate and with a deranged mind. As the chief said, this person is dangerous. We need every tip we can get to bring this person into custody as soon as possible. And of course we'll make sure that he pays the price for this horrible act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

VALENCIA: We cannot stress this enough. Police are in dire need of any and all informing. The smallest tip is welcome. They're encouraging the public to call into 911 if you have any information about this shooting. So take a good look at the images we're putting up on your screen right now. This suspect described as 21 years old, 5'9", a slight build with a distinctive haircut, a distinctive license plate as well, arriving at the scene in a black four-door sedan. Local, regional authorities as well as the FBI, all a part of this manhunt, very active, casting a wide net throughout the city and beyond to look for this man who left nine people dead. Alisyn

ALISYN CAMEROTA, CNN ANCHOR: OK, Nick, bring us any new developments as you get them on the ground there. Joining us on the phone is the cousin of Pastor Clementa Pinckney,

Kent Williams is with us. His cousin was killed in this massacre. Mr. Williams, we are so sorry this morning for your family, your cousin, who was the victim in this heinous crime.

KENT WILLIAMS, COUSIN OF CLEMENTA PINCKNEY (via telephone): Yes, thank you for that, Alisyn. It's really a sad day here in South Carolina, especially with the family and friend and the South Carolina general assembly. We are all very saddened here today as to what has taken place the last evening in Charleston.

CAMEROTA: Mr. Williams, how did you get the news that something horrible had happened at your cousin's church?

WILLIAMS: First and foremost, Senator Pinckney is my cousin. He's flesh of my flesh and bones of my bones. And he also happens to be my colleague in the South Carolina state Senate. And so we always communicate. And of course through communications last night I got the call, got the text message that something had happened really, really bad in Charleston at Emmanuel AME church. There was a shooting, which is really alarmed me because I knew he was the pastor there. And then as I learned more. I learned that he was one of the victims in that shooting, along with others. And, you know, I want to say my prayers also go out to those other victims' families who have been impacted by this tragic, tragic event.

CAMEROTA: You two were very close, as you've said. When is the last time you spoke to your cousin?

WILLIAMS: Yesterday. We had session yesterday. We were in a Senate finance committee meeting yesterday. We were in a Senate Democratic caucus meeting yesterday. He did the prayer for the meeting as he does quite often. So just yesterday we were together. We talked and had some discussions.

[08:05:00] And of course he -- his mother grew up right across, as we like to refer to, across the field from my parents' house. We were a very close family, and he and I were very close. Senator Pinckney, first and foremost, he was a God fearing man. He was loved by everyone, never heard anyone say a harsh word about him. He was a peacemaker. As that old saying says, I'd rather see a sermon than to hear one. Well, you saw it every day through Senator Clementa Pinckney. He was quite a character, had this deep voice that everybody wished they had. When he spoke, I mean, he commanded your attention and always had words of wisdom, well thought out, articulated.

And he was just a wonderful guy. He was a great asset to the South Carolina Senate, to Senate Democrats there. We're going to miss him. It's almost like a dream. It's like we're dreaming and this hasn't happened and we're going to wake up and realize, hey, this is all a dream.

But I can tell you my prayers go out to his wife, his two daughters, his grandmother who lives here in Marion where I live. And I see her often. It's just a huge, huge loss and a sad, sad thing that has taken place here.

CAMEROTA: You're echoing all of the things that we have heard from other people, that he was a giant among men, that he was a calming voice not only in the church but in the state house there and in the community. Can we ask you about his daughters? How old are they?

WILLIAMS: I think his oldest daughter may be 10 or 11 and his youngest is four or five, somewhere in that neighborhood. Two beautiful daughters, a lovely wife. He had a beautiful family, loved his family, took care of his family, always put his family first, was a great provider for his family, was a family man, just a wonderful guy.

Just, you know what, anybody would want in a father and in a pastor and in a senator anywhere in this country. He was just a great guy. I loved him. I adored talking to him. He never called me senator. He always called me cos. That's how we greeted each other, you know, those kinds of things, just a great guy, just a great guy. We're really going to miss him. I mean, it is devastating that someone would go into God's house and commit such a crime. It's just beyond my imagination. I can't even comprehend this.

CAMEROTA: Yes.

WILLIAMS: And it tells me and it says to the word we're not safe anywhere anymore. If you can't be safe in God's house when you're there studying his word, praying and lifting him up and so forth, and someone can come in and do something like this, it is despicable for something like this to happen.

CAMEROTA: Absolutely. The police had a press conference. They said there were six women and three men killed, one of them your cousin Clementa. Do you know if there were any other family members with him?

WILLIAMS: I don't know. I've heard there was a possibility that there may have been another family member there with him. But there again, I have not verified that.

CAMEROTA: Yes. So the public perception of him is par excellence. Everyone says just as you have that he was such a giant and a pillar. But I'm interested in your personal impressions of him. You say he was a character. Can you tell us more?

WILLIAMS: Oh, yes. He was a man of character. As I said, he was a God fearing man. He was a family man. He was a man that lend a helping hand to all. Didn't matter who you were, what walk of life you came from, your race, color or creed, or anything like that, your religious background. It did not matter. He was a man that wanted to help people and lend a hand and lift people up and bring them along.

[08:10:07] And he was all really, really about the poor. He really had a passion for helping the poor, for helping to improve the quality of life for all mankind, but especially those who are the least among us. That was Clementa Pinckney. CAMEROTA: Mr. Williams, we heard just yesterday, I think, we heard

from one of his colleagues this morning that Clementa Pinckney was working on some legislation in the state house about body cameras, police officers having to wear body cameras.

WILLIAMS: Absolutely. He was one of the lead spokespersons on the body cameras. I can remember him taking the podium and talking about the importance of body cameras to protect lives, law enforcement and the citizens.

CAMEROTA: Yes. And he talked about, and correct me if I'm wrong, about the need to combat violence and how this would help. And he was very focused on cutting down on violence however he could. Can you tell us me about that speech yesterday?

WILLIAMS: Well, the speech didn't take place yesterday. It took place here three weeks or so ago, because he represents a part of Charleston County. Walter Scott, who was gunned down by the police officer and of course was unarmed, and he was very passionate about that. He held a vigil prayer there in Charleston and played for the family and those kinds of things. And there was no doubt in his mind and in the South Carolina general assembly that body cameras would make a difference and deserves a place with law enforcement in terms of helping to better protect lives.

CAMEROTA: Mr. Williams, can you tell us about your cousin's sermons from the pulpit? What do you remember about those?

WILLIAMS: Well, he was a biblical man. He knew the word of God. He studied that word. He always talked about doing the right thing, being godly, living by the word and to be God fearing, to love people regardless of race, color, creed. We're our brother's keeper. And those are the kind of messages I can remember by Reverend Pinckney.

CAMEROTA: Kent Williams, we appreciate you sharing your personal impressions of your cousin as well as the public perception of him. And we are so sorry for your loss. Our prayers are with your whole family this morning.

WILLIAMS: Thank you. And just keep us in your prayers, if you will, please.

CAMEROTA: We will. Thank you. Chris?

CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: All right, we have somebody very important to talk to right now, the president of the Charleston chapter of the NAACP. That is Dot Scott. Dot has information from family members who are talking to victims that survived this crime down there, and it goes to why authorities believe it was a hate crime. Scott, can you hear us right now?

DOT SCOTT, CHARLESTON NAACP PRESIDENT (via telephone): Yes, I can.

CUOMO: Thank you for joining us. I'm sorry it is on this occasion. But the information you have I think is going to be very helpful. What did you hear about what this murderer did and said inside this church that feeds our understanding that this was a targeted attack on the people inside there?

SCOTT: I stated earlier that while I did not hear this from the victim's mouth and I may not even be repeating it verbatim, over a dozen times last night it was said that this victim who was not shot but was there. Her life was spared because the shooter said I am not going to shoot you. I am going to let you go because I want you to be able to tell them what happened.

CUOMO: And what was said that indicated why this happened there? Was anything said by him about why he was targeting this group of people in this church?

SCOTT: I don't have the rest of the information. I've heard reported by the news reports, family members have said other things. No one said it in my presence while I was there doing this brief a while ago there last night. So I don't know anything else that was said in the presence. And that goes to why the perpetrator did what he did.

[08:15:06] CHRIS CUOMO, CNN ANCHOR: Did anybody recognize this young man as someone who had been there before? Was there any talk about that?

SCOTT: Well, the only discussion that has been had -- and I had this with one of the church members who is a friend of mine, not part of those who were there last night. But this church being a historically, very -- I mean, historically black church, one of the oldest, if not the oldest church there, it sits in an area that a lot of the tourists frequent. So, it's not out of the ordinary that folks just walk into the sanctuary and probably just sit and listen to what's going on. That's not out of the ordinary.

So, it may not have been quite unusual to see a young man come in and sat down and what erupted there. They said he did come in. He sat down and then he proceeded to what I call wreak carnage on the church.

CUOMO: Right. That's our understanding as well, and having been in the church. Even though it's a black church, it's not unusual white people to be in there.

SCOTT: No, white people tourists, other black folks -- it wouldn't be something that it would be some red flag that someone's there that maybe don't need to be here. That's not the way it is at that church. And most black churches that are on the peninsula in Charleston.

CUOMO: Understood, understood. And there's so many churches there. It's a big reason it's called the "holy city".

The authorities mentioned that of those who lost their lives, there were six female and three male. Now, I'm wondering why they didn't say men and women. Do we know anything about any children being in there? And did you know anybody who lost their lives there?

SCOTT: Yes, I know three of the people and I may know some of the others. I'm just beginning to get some of the other names that were released, because three of those who passed, including the pastor, Senator Pinckney, is a member of the Charleston branch of the NAACP. CUOMO: And did you hear anything about there being children there?

Or were they all adults?

SCOTT: Well, there was no indication that any child was injured. There were children there, because there were children at what I call the site last night where the gathering that authorities were searching for folks that could counsel them, meaning that they had somehow experienced some but not all of what went on at that church, which is really unfortunate, very sad.

CUOMO: The people who survived, did they say whether or not there was any indication that this murder was targeting certain people? Was he there for the pastor? Was he there for anyone in particular?

SCOTT: No indication, it's "you people". What I've heard late about "you people" which was the statement that was shared early that obviously something we as a people had done as a result of what he was doing.

CUOMO: What is --

SCOTT: It's called (ph) a retribution for you people have, I think -- and this was reported on CNN this morning. And this is a family member of the Reverend Pinckney, that you people are -- our people and we're taking our, I think -- I think -- I'm not sure.

Let's just say I'm not absolutely sure. I've got probably a total of a few -- an hour's sleep. I don't want to repeat. CNN is reporting that there have been some statements made by the shooter --

CUOMO: Right.

SCOTT: -- indicated that this was for retribution. And it didn't appear that there was any one or two people targeted, but it's "you people," meaning, you black people that happened to be at this church tonight.

CUOMO: Right. That's something that we're tracking down right now at CNN, and I'm sure other media is as well. But certainly, whatever was said by this murderer inside is what prompted the authorities to designate it early on as a hate crime.

We know that there was a big group of people at the Embassy Suites nearby who are family members. We know they're hurting right now and we know you have important work to do.

But, Ms. Scott, thank you for joining us and giving us this piece in this mystery of understanding why this person would do something so terrible and we wish you the best and all the counseling you're going to have to do ahead.

SCOTT: Thank you so much. Bye-bye.

CUOMO: Mick?

MICHAELA PEREIRA, CNN ANCHOR: As the nation struggles to understand what happened there, the broader impact of the South Carolina shooting is certainly resonating nationwide. We're going to have to speak ahead with Louisiana Governor Bobby Jindal about this breaking news.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We're committed to finding this horrible scoundrel.

[08:20:04] We'll make sure that he pays the price for this horrible act.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

CUOMO: We're, of course, following breaking news right now.

There is a manhunt underway right now for a man who opened fire in a historic African American church in Charleston, South Carolina. He took nine people's lives. At this point, we know that there were six women and three men, including the church's pastor who's also a state senator. We also know that there were children inside.

We also know that this gunman who has a picture out that authorities are asking us to circulate and we'll be putting it up during out next segment, they're still looking for him and he supposedly left victims alive because he wanted people to know what happened inside.

To discuss why this happened, what it means and what we do about it, we have Republican Governor Bobby Jindal of Louisiana.

Governor, thank for joining us.

We had other topics we're planning on discussing. But obviously, this is going to take precedence.

What is message coming out of something like this?

GOV. BOBBY JINDAL (R), LOUISIANA: Well, look, I think like every American when we heard this shocking, shocking news I had conflicting emotions. On the one hand, my heart just breaks for the families, the members of this community that lost loved ones. I'm not sure they'll ever understand why.

[08:25:01] I mean, you think about it, you go to church, at the sanctuary, supposed to be a safe place -- we're talking about people that were in a bible study. They're there worshipping God, they're opening their arms in love and prayer. This is the last place you'd think you'd be in danger, the last place you'd expect random or senseless acts of violence. I say random. We don't know that it's random.

I'm also outraged. This is beyond evil. I know that we're struggling this morning to come up with the right words, this is beyond evil. This is horrific. This monster needs to be tracked down, needs to be brought to justice. It is outrageous. You see the capacity, man's capacity to inflict harm and evil on each

other, again, my heart breaks for this community. We've got to pray for them, we've got to keep in our thoughts. They've got to be struggling this morning. There aren't any answers for why this would happen.

Like so many Americans, I think about this not only as a governor but also as a husband and a father. Church is a safe place. It's supposed to be where we can go to worship, supposed to be where we can go to get away from the world's worries, a bible study. These are men and women who have come together to pray to God, to lift their concerns up to him, to have their lives cut short by this evil, evil -- look, there's no other term for it, this evil monster, hunt him down, who killed them. I hope the authorities are able to capture him quickly and bring him no justice.

CUOMO: Authorities said he sat there in there for an hour during the bible study before this happened. How that plays into his mentality, the calculated nature is obvious. They designated it a hate crime not just because of the nature of the victims being African-American, but because they know what was done and said inside. We hear the same from the head of the local NAACP who heard from survivors and people who had spoken to survivors about it.

We know that the FBI is involved and that they're trying to connect this with any chatter from extremist, right or left, or whatever kind of groups. They say right groups, but who cares? Extremist groups.

What does that mean if this is a window into a problem of targeting these people because they were African American? Is it an act of terror?

JINDAL: Look, I don't think we have words strong enough to describe how evil this is. I mean, whatever words you want to put on it, this man went in -- from what we heard, he goes into a church, sits there for an hour, like you said, kills nine people. And then says to some of the survivors, I'm letting you live so you can go tell people what I've done.

In my mind, look, there are no words strong enough to condemn that, evil, terror, whatever you want to call it. This is horrific. It's almost unimaginable. These are the kinds of things you think, this shouldn't happen.

I'm sure you have a lot of people waking up to this news thinking, how could this happen in America? How could this happen in South Carolina? I've been in Charleston. It's a wonderful community. It's a great state.

We don't want to think this could ever happen in our countries, in our communities, in our churches. Look, I suspect when they do catch -- and I hope this catch this guy quickly and I hope they bring him to justice quickly. I don't know that we'll ever understand what was going on in his mind. I mean, it just -- we'll see. We'll see what he says. We'll see if he had written anything. We'll see -- how do you understand evil at this level? I mean, again, there's no rationale for going into a church, there's not rationale for taking innocent human lives, there's no rationale -- these people were in a bible study. I mean, they haven't offending (ph), they didn't do anything, this was -- there can be no trying to understand or explain why this kind of evil behavior.

Let's see what he -- when they catch him, let's see what he says. Let's see if he's got writings, let's see if he's posted things online. At the root of this, this is evil. At the root of this -- again, our hearts break.

I do hope this community will be able to find some comfort in their faith. There are certain questions we can't understand in this life. I think there are certain questions that until we meet God, until we meet our creator, unfortunately, we know he's got a plan, we've got to have faith. I'm a Christian. The men and women who were killed here were Christian. We believe in another life after this, we believe in God's kingdom and mercy and love compassion for us. We believe his son died on the cross for us.

Some of these things unfortunately can't make sense to us in this lifetime. And you're just left -- I also pray for the surviving -- the pastors, the other members of this church. I know they're going to try to heal their community. Can you imagine the members of this church -- every one of them has a loved one or friends, somebody they knew that was killed for going to a bible study.

And I keep going back to that. These men and women were going about their business and coming together to pray, one of the most harmless, one of the most uplifting things you can do. And they're not going home after that.

CUOMO: And we know that the community is coming out, the leaders and saying, we are going to love our way through this because that is the answer to the hate that inspired it to be sure. And as that Christian community, they called it the "holy city" because of all the religious places that are there.

You know, many Christians believe the kingdom of God is here on this Earth, and it's about making this as good as you can. One of the men who really believe that had his life taken, the pastor. We have a picture now of the state senator's seat. The pastor himself was in there, Senator Clementa Pinckney. And now, there's a black cloth over his seat, it's draped in black obviously out of respect of his passing.