Georgia Authorities Release More Information on Infant Death; Severe Weather Slamming Much of the Country; Flash Flooding in Memphis, TN
KAYE: We begin with a dramatic twist in the case of a Georgia toddler who died after his father left him in the scorch car for hours. Turns out his father, Justin Ross Harris, is not the only family member who researched child deaths in hot cars. Police say the boy's mother also did research on children dying in hot cars. Leanna Harris has not been identified in a suspect in her son's death. Her husband is charged with murder and second degree child cruelty. Little Cooper Harris was buried yesterday in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. His mother told the church full mourners that her husband's a wonderful father and she loves him. National reporter, Nick Valencia is tracking this emotional story. Nic, what else did you learn from the new police affidavit?</s>NICK VALENCIA, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Very limited details. Good evening, Randi. A day after Leanna Harris def defended actions of her husband, she may have to defend her own actions. As you mentioned there, Leanna Harris also researched child deaths in hot cars. Yesterday, I was at the funeral, little Cooper Harris' small red casket placed in front of hundreds who came to pay respects.</s>VALENCIA (voice-over): Under a light summer rain in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, 22-month-old Cooper Harris was laid to rest at a funeral service attended by hundreds. Not present, his father, Justin Ross Harris who is accused of killing the toddler. But he did call in from jail to thank funeral guests for supporting his son and apologized for not being there. While he was on the phone, his wife Leanna said that she is absolutely not angry at her husband. She called him a wonderful father and said that the truth would come out. Harris could be heard sobbing over the phone as the crowd inside gave him a standing ovation. Earlier Saturday, new starling details emerged about the 33-year-old. According to search warrants obtained by CNN, Harris told police, quote, "that he recently researched through the internet child deaths inside vehicles and what temperature it needs to be for that to occur." The police officer went on to say, quote, "Justin stated that he was fearful that this could happen." What remains unclear is exactly whether that search was done. Friends and family say the man police paint as a murderer is not the man they know.</s>CAROL BROWN, FAMILY FRIEND: I want that he would be able to forgive himself.</s>VALENCIA: Family friend, Carol Brown.</s>BROWN: It's just seems out of character for Ross and I know people change. It's been 15 years or so since we've had contact in the church. So, you know, people change. But -- it's just hard for me to imagine that that is the Ross, the sweet Ross Harris, sweet little funny boy that we knew.</s>VALENCIA: A lawyer has instructed Harris's family not to speak to the media. Those who have spoken off camera say a man with the moral fiber of Harris would not be capable of killing his son. Left for seven hours in his father's car under the blistering Atlanta sun, Cooper Harris died. What is still unknown is what could have motivated Harris as police say to kill his only child. Outside the university church of Christ, friends and family grieve as they wait to find out if baby Cooper's death was a terrible accident or something more sinister.</s>VALENCIA: And in the search warrants released this morning, Randi, it was not said when Leanna Harris actually made that search for child deaths in cars. She stood in front of the church yesterday, near capacity, about 400 people in the crowd, and she defended her husband. They hope that the truth will come out and defend them -- Randi.</s>KAYE: Nick Valencia, thank you very much. Such a tragic story. In New Orleans now, gunfire in the French quarter early today left nine people wounded. One is in critical condition, another underwent surgery. The other victims are in stable condition with nonlife threatening injuries. The shooting occurred about 2:45 a.m. on Bourbon Street, in an area popular with tourists. Police do not yet have a suspect or a motive. Possible tornado threats could develop later tonight in the nation's midsection. Right now, flash floods are the problem in fem Memphis, Tennessee. Some drivers have been stranded in a trailer park flooded. Police are warning people to stay off roads until the rain subsides. So let me bring in meteorologist, Alexandra Steele, has much more on tonight's forecast. Alexandra, what can we expect?</s>ALEXANDRA STEELE, AMS METEOROLOGIST: You know, Randi, national weather service calling what you just saw there in pictures earlier today a flash flood emergency. Those were the images and these are the numbers, just since yesterday, 10.3 inches of rain in little Dixie. This is Arkansas, Howell, 9.6. Memphis, 7.6. In areas around Memphis, they have a month's worth of rain in seven hour alone. So, here the estimated rainfall totals, you can see six to 10 inches right in this quadrant from Little Rock to Memphis, this is the i-40. And predominantly (ph), this is cotton and soybean farms. And right now, at the beginning of the squaring process. So really, could do some harm there hindering this squaring process, you know. And the problem is, we've got more rain to come, believe it or not. Another three to five inches potentially coming in this area. Also Chicago, severe weather potentially for you, two to four inches of rain. So a few big weather stories happening around the country. One, of course, the flooding here in the south. The other, the setup we're going to see for severe weather tonight. Biggest cities impacted about 20 million could see severe weather. But Omaha, Des Moines, this is where the moderate risk tonight is for isolated tornadoes. Tornado watches have just been put up until 11:00 tonight. Hail as well. And even some gusty winds. And of course, those isolated tornadoes and downpours to boot. Also, the third story, what we are going to see, Randi, here is it, it could be an area of low pressure right now off the gulf stream. So it's kind of sucking in all of the warm water. There's potential here, 60 percent within two days it becomes our first tropical depression, tropical storm first in the Atlantic. And these are all the potential trajectories of it. All of the models very consistent. This could be July 4th weekend, Randi, all of the beaches along coast could be impacted by some tropical entity with an awful lot of rain. So, this is certainly a storm we are going to keep an eye until the next couple of days.</s>KAYE: Yes. A whole different kind of fireworks, I guess.</s>STEELE: That's right.</s>KAYE: Alexandra Steele, thank you very much. Appreciate it. $2 billion, that's how much the White House could request to tacking the immigration crisis on our border. But money alone is not going to solve this problem. Many immigrants live in limbo in the U.S., part of our society, but separate. Ahead, one woman tells her own story what it's like to live like this.