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CNN NEWSROOM

Some Details Revealed About the Gunman in the Orlando Massacre. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired June 17, 2016 - 15:30   ET

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


[15:30:00] DON LEMON, CNN ANCHOR: But what do you say to Republicans because Republicans don't have a good track record coming to supporting gay issues?

LT. GOV. SPENCER COX, APOLOGIZED TO LGBT COMMUNITY FOR HIS PAST ATTITUDE: Sure. Well, what I would say to them is, look, let's start where we can. We are not going to agree on all the issues. I get that. We are just not. And we never have and that's OK. But we have to start looking at each other and caring for each other as individuals, as people. So now because I have been working on the relationships, I can sit down with members of the LGBT community. And even where we disagree we listen to understand and I think I get more of what they're trying to do. I think they understand where I differ in some areas but I truly believe that there is commonality and saw that in the state of Utah year and a half ago and the religious communities sit down with the LGBT community and come up with something very unique and no one ever thought what happened in the state of Utah to get protections to the LGBT community in housing and in employment. People thought that wouldn't happen in Utah and it did. That's where we need to start.

LEMON: Thank you, lieutenant governor. Appreciate it. I have to go. I have to run. I have breaking news. Thank you very much.

COX: Thank you.

LEMON: Breaking news as soon as CNN revealing details about what the gunman was doing in the weeks leading up to the attack in Orlando including preparation involving bank accounts and life insurance. That's next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:35:47] LEMON: So as I mentioned before the break we have breaking news. We are going to get to it now involves the Orlando shooter and his behavior before the attack. I want to bring my colleague now CNN's Pamela Brown and also Drew Griffin will join us in just a moment.

But Pamela, what are you learning about possible preparation for this?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Don. We are just learning some new information from my law enforcement sources at this hour that the gunman clearly took steps in the weeks leading up to this shooting to plan for his death and to make sure his family was taken care of. In fact, Don, we have learned that he put some documents in his wife's name, made sure that she had access to his bank accounts, made sure that she was taken care of in terms of life insurance. And so all of these steps are being looked at by law enforcement officials as signs of pre-meditation. In addition, we know that he sort of went on a spending spree as well and spent thousands of dollars on just one piece of jewelry for his wife. At one point we know he bought the guns. And these are signs that his wife had noticed. She told investigators she noticed that he was spending erratically and claims she didn't know of specific plans of what he was going to do. But that she feared he might do something violent.

Also on the note, we are learning that he transferred according to these public documents, they transferred his share of a house where his sister and brother-in-law currently reside to them $10 back in April. The family did not return calls when we called them to see why this was. And we know the FBI looking at this. At this point, investigators don't quite know what to make of this particular aspect but I can tell you the fact that he was taking all these steps leading up to the shooting, it was a really clear indication to investigators that he had been planning this for some time. It wasn't just a spur of the moment decision - Don.

LEMON: Yes. Exactly. Stand by, Pam. I want to bring in now investigative correspondent Drew Griffin.

And Drew, as Pamela just indicated and according to the reporting that I have from you here, one source saying that this behavior suggests premeditation by Mateen, correct?

DREW GRIFFIN, CNN SENIOR INVESTIGATIVE CORRESPONDENT: That's absolutely right, Don. We did reach out to the family of the shooter. I contacted a source, the source said, listen, we have no comment on this. He was specifically referring to the transfer of property. And while this goes on, we can tell you that the FBI has been back here in Ft. Pierce going to the Islamic center this morning and spending an hour there trying to find out any information they could about anyone who knew him, who associated with him, so the FBI still very much on the ground here trying to find anybody who had any connection to this shooter - Don.

LEMON: All right. Drew Griffin and Pamela Brown with the new information saying that this suggested some premeditation on the part of Omar Mateen leading up to this massacre in the nightclub late Saturday night, early Sunday morning. Suggesting a premeditation by transferring the house over to his sister and brother-in-law and also making sure his wife had access to certain documents, bank accounts, information and life insurance. We will update you as we get more information on this breaking news.

Meantime, the grief-stricken city of Orlando is now saying its final good-byes to the 49 victims who were killed in the massacre at the Pulse nightclub. Funeral services have been held today for five of the victims including a couple whose friends say -- had plans to get married. Visitations were scheduled today for four others. A healing is also happening at a different time at church and that is the parliament house, a gay nightclub that has become a kind of mecca for this grieving community.

And I want to discuss that now with Dan Schwab. He is a manager of the parliament house. Dan, how are you doing?

DAN SCHWAB, MANAGER, PARLIAMENT HOUSE: I'm good. How are you?

LEMON: I wish we could have met under better circumstances. I want to say that. It is an LGB - a Parliament House is an LGBTQ hotel, bar and club. It's been in Orlando for past 40 years. How did you help to set up an event last night? How did that go?

SCHWAB: It went very well, actually. We weren't sure with all that's going on whether or not we would have a large turnout. We were hoping we would to show community support. There were a lot of funerals, obviously, going on, memorials. And obviously, some fear. But we had a busier night than we normally would on Latin night at the parliament house and a very good vibe. People were happy, they were sad, it was a very good place to be last night.

[15:40:27] LEMON: Dan, how important are events like this in a place like Parliament for your community now?

SCHWAB: They are very important. You know, I can't emphasize enough how important it is for people to get out of their homes, put aside any fear or hesitation they might have and come out and support, there's a lot of people in need, a lot of people are hurting. They need the support of their friends, their family just to be there and be supportive.

LEMON: Can we discuss this fear a little bit more? I mean, we know the immediate aftermath of the shooting the Orlando police department put an alert out to gay clubs in the area. I was there, I remember people doing it and people were afraid. What are you hearing from your friends and colleagues now?

SCHWAB: There is a little bit of apprehension from people about coming out. But it's been overwhelmingly the thought of we have to be out. We have to be seen. We can't let them win. The worst thing you can do is hide in fear right now. The voice that's not heard is what the true problem is.

LEMON: Dan Schwab, thank you very much. You're very brave. I appreciate what you're doing down there at Parliament House. Dan Schwab joining us from Orlando.

I want to get back to the breaking news, Pamela Brown is also on the ground in Orlando.

Pamela, you have new information about a warning the FBI received about the gunman?

BROWN: That's right. In fact, the FBI just releasing the statement, Don, in the wake of these reports from the owner of the Lotus Gunworks saying that the gunman came there in may trying to buy a level-3 body armor, he was turn away because the store didn't sell it. The owner claims that it did tell the FBI about this and the FBI just sent out a statement saying that because the store did not carry that particular style of body armor, it referred an unknown individual elsewhere but was unable to collect any information about him to include name, date of birth, charge card, telephonic information or email address. And then after June 12, the statement says the Lotus personnel notified the FBI and said that that unknown individual who they felt like was acting suspiciously who had visited the store in may resembled the Pulse shooter so the FBI making the point here that while the store did mention it to them in an unrelated case that the FBI had closed and mentioned there was this other person who came in to buy this body armor and he turn him away. He thought he acted suspicious, the store didn't have any other information for the FBI to chase down any leads so the FBI making the point that he didn't make a purchase, he didn't -- there was no license plate number or surveillance video to help them track down the individual - Don.

LEMON: Pamela Brown, with the new information. Thank you very much for that, Pam.

As you can see, the investigation is in full force right now in Orlando.

You know, the attack in Orlando was horrific. But my next guest says it was not the deadliest mass shooting in American history. Not the deadliest mass shooting in American history. Hear why, next.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:47:44] LEMON: Again, the massacre in Orlando has been called the worst mass shooting in U.S. history. But authorities investigating the killings and by many in the news media including CNN, this network believes the phrase is under set (INAUDIBLE). A single shooter against innocent who are not involve with the shooter in any conflict and were attacked. Mass shootings where one gunman opened fire on unarmed civilians who were going about their business at work, at school, at their church. But there are any who disagree including my next guest, veteran journalist and author Roger Witherspoon has written extensively on civil rights, national politics and foreign affairs. He is the author of "Martin Luther King Jr., to the Mountain Top." And also here is Ariella Gross, USC law and history professor. And she is the author of "What Blood won't Tell, a history of race on trial in America."

Ariella, I hope you can hear me. I know you are joining us via Skype.

You both say that what happened in Orlando was not the worst mass shooting in the U.S. history. What in your opinion makes that statement inaccurate?

ROGER WITHERSPOON, AUTHOR, MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.: Every word of it. You are deliberately ignoring all of the massacres in history, starting in the 1600s.

LEMON: OK. Ariella, why do you think it's inaccurate?

ARIELLA GROSS, LAW AND HISTORY PROFESSOR, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA: Yes. If you qualify it with single shooter, it's an accurate statement. I wrote that it's not the deadliest mass shooting because there has been a history of racially motivated, as well as anti-gay, mass shootings and burnings going back to the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890. (INAUDIBLE) that were known as race riots in the early 20th century, East St. Louis as many as 200 or 300 African- Americans were murdered by shooting, burning, other forms of killing. The massacre in Tulsa, Oklahoma, in 1921. So there is this longer history of hatred-motivated killings that I think it's important to see as the historical context of what happened in Orlando.

[15:50:06] LEMON: Does it make a difference that those who are either wrongly in those cases, police or military action and not one shooter, Ariella?

GROSS: So, the action -- the massacre of Wounded Knee was the Calvary. But most of the massacres that I'm talking about that happened in cities across the United States, north and south, whether it was Tulsa, Oklahoma, Illinois, Rosewood, Florida, those were carried out by private individuals. They fit most of the definition that you have handed out. They were by people who didn't have an individual grievance against the people they were shooting. They were motivated by bigotry and hatred.

LEMON: OK, I want to give Roger a chance to weigh in on this.

So Roger, you have accused the media of not doing its homework. Why is the understanding of one shooter not acceptable in this instance?

WITHERSPOON: First of all, Don, you are a journalist. And one has to be accurate. If you want to say "by one shooter," then to say that. But to simply have a blanket statement, the worst mass killing in history, then you need to own all of American history. And it's a lie not to.

LEMON: I think what we are saying is the worst mass shooting in American history, the worst terrorist attack since 9/11. But go on.

WITHERSPOON: You all never said that. The cover of a number of newspapers and NPR never had a caveat, never had a time frame, it was simply the worst mass shooting in U.S. history and that is not true. If you go back to (INAUDIBLE) in 1873, you have more than 100 (INAUDIBLE) in Coal Fox, Louisiana trying to register (INAUDIBLE), but he was surrounded by a group of armed whites who killed 103 of them. Two of the people there were actually convicted in a case that came to be known in the U.S. versus Crudeshank and the Supreme Court ruled it out proving that equal protection of pride to state action and not to individuals. And that case gave free rein to the Ku Klux Klan to go around killing, terrorizing, torturing and murdering (INAUDIBLE) which is what they did for the next 60 years. And you can't dismiss that by saying, well, we weren't referring to that. If you weren't referring to that, don't say it. Because if you say in all U.S. history, then you own all of U.S. history.

LEMON: All right. There's been a lot of discussion about this, especially on social media and online and I think it's important to have this conversation.

Thank you very much, Roger. Thank you, Ariella, appreciate that.

Out of the horrors of the Orlando massacre, a moment of brotherhood and love as two men have an incredible reunion. An Orlando officer embracing a man he pulled from the floor of the Pulse nightclub.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ANDERSON COOPER, CNN HOST, AC 360 (voice-over): It was an emotional reunion for survivor Angel Colon and Officer Omar Delgado.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm so glad you're alive, man.

COOPER: The first time the two have seen each other since their encounter last weekend at Pulse nightclub, but we now know it was the worst shooting on U.S. soil.

OFFICER OMAR DELGADO, EATONVILLE, FLORIDA POLICE: When I arrived, just all of the chaos. The people running, screaming, crying, yelling.

COOPER: Officer Delgado entered the club along with the other officers shortly after he arrived on scene. Inside, the gunman was hold up elsewhere in the club.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my God.

COOPER: Gunshots were ringing out and the officer Delgado's instinct to protect kicked in.

DELGADO: Seconds later that we hear more gunshots.

COOPER: You can actually hear them from outside?

DELGADO: From outside, yes. And we know what happened but I followed them. There were three of us. We just jetted right inside.

COOPER: Officer Delgado was able to help removed some of the wounded amidst the darkness and disco lights.

DELGADO: There were bodies all over on the floor. Somebody yelled out, this person's moving. Another person I saw was moving so I went and another officer grabbed him and I just don't recall if that was Angel because we pulled like, you know, three or four people out.

ANGEL COLON, SHOOTING SURVIVOR: When he was dragging me out, I couldn't just look up and telling him hurry. Please hurry.

DELGADO: The gunman shot a woman next to Angel, then he shot Angel in the hand and hip. Angel pretended to be dead as the gunman kept firing.

COLON: When I first saw him, I was you know, I was face-down, laying down on the floor. I could only move my arms and my head up so I just saw him, the side of his glasses. I'm like, help me, please. COOPER: A nine-year veteran of the Eatonville police department,

nothing could have prepared him for what saw that night. Forty nine innocent people dead, dozens of others injured. But knowing that he saved some lives brings his comfort in the midst of tragedy.

What was it like to actually seeing him?

[15:55:12] DELGADO: There is a feeling that you just can't describe, can't put it in words knowing that you helped saved someone.

COOPER: Anderson Cooper, CNN, Orlando.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

LEMON: Fascinating. Thank you, Anderson. We will be right back.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[15:59:36] LEMON: CNN's Fareed Zakaria today interviewing Russian president Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump came up.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

VLADIMIR PUTIN, RUSSIAN PRESIDENT (through translator): Why are you juggling with what I said? I only said that he was a bright person. Isn't he bright? He is.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

LEMON: Make sure you watch Fareed's full interview with Vladimir Putin this Sunday morning at 10:00 eastern only on CNN.

Thanks for watching. Have a great weekend. "The LEAD" with Jim Sciutto starts right now.