Tornado Hits Texas Town; Families Devastated by Tornado; George Zimmerman Shot.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.</s>BROOKE BALDWIN, CNN ANCHOR: Here we go. Breaking news on this Monday. I'm Brooke Baldwin. Thank you so much for being with me. Communities all across the Midwest and the Plains really are now in recovery mode after this deadly line of storms, including more than 70 reported tornadoes hit across multiple states. At least five deaths have been confirmed with many, many more people injured. But let's focus right now in this area in Texas here because so much of this devastation hit the northeastern Texas town of Van. This is just east of Dallas. I can tell you that two people there are dead, eight others are missing and officials say at least a third of this town, that's roughly, they're saying, 100 homes were just absolutely, as you can see, obliterated. All these buildings, facilities, some schools as well. Schools, businesses destroyed here. And across much of this region, as much as four inches of rain turned roads into rivers. There were harrowing rescue scenes from the raging waters, cars totally submerged, people just stuck in their homes. The mayor of Van, Texas, praised the way the community pulled together and jumped into action.</s>MAYOR DEAN STONE, VAN, TEXAS: We were here all night, and we're still here. And a bunch of them still are. We lost a lot of good properties, but it's just something that you never expect, but we'll be working on it diligently. These gentlemen have already told you some of the things that's going to come to pass, but we just have to stick together and do what we've been doing so far. And there's no place else I'd rather be at this time than right here where everybody sticks together and does their job.</s>BALDWIN: I've got CNN meteorologist Jennifer Gray. She's live there in Van. And, I mean, Jennifer, I've covered stories like this and it's one thing to see these images on TV. It is quite another to look at all this in person.</s>JENNIFER GRAY, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Yes, we rolled up this morning before daylight and then once daylight broke, it was just devastation all around. We are on Main Street. We keep moving a little bit farther back and back because they are trying to get in there and restore power. There are power lines littering the road everywhere. Trees are down as well. So they are busy trying to get things back up and running. But you can look behind me and you can see the flashing lights. They are working very, very hard. And then we have just amazing aerials and pictures that I know you're showing as well. Like you said, we do have, unfortunately, two fatalities. We don't know much about them. We do know that it was a male and female, and they were near a mobile home park. And we also know that about 43 people were taken to hospitals. Many more drove themselves. We also know that those eight people are missing. Some of those on the north side of town, others from the south side of town. They are busy going door to door and looking through all of the rubble to see if they can find those people. I know canine units are out here as well to try to locate the missing. Fortunately, we did find two people that were reported missing. Those were found safe. So we do have just little - little bits of good news in all of this. And, Brooke, you know, they did have the tornado sirens blaring. However, they didn't have much time to get to their safe spot. Only a few minutes. We spoke with one lady who said by the time that the tornado siren was sounding, that she didn't have enough time to get to her storm shelter and so she and her two dogs huddled in their bathtub together. She described it as such a scary situation. You know, and with small towns like this, only 2,600 people, you know, the school was just devastated. And we saw couples walking around. They went to school there. Their children went to school there. And she said that it just feels like your entire childhood is destroyed. And so people here are devastated, but yet they are coming together, just as we see in times of tragedy. Shelters are open. People are bringing in water, food, clothing, supplies, anything they need to help in their time of need. Of course, all the crews will be out here again looking for those missing eight people and trying to restore power and get Van back up and running, Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: It is incredible in these moments, the power of community. Our hearts and thoughts go out to them. We'll speak with somebody live who lives there in just a moment. Jennifer Gray, thank you so much. But just to step back for a minute and show you how dangerous it is, even just for journalists to cover this tornado in Van, I want to show you what happened to a team. This is from our affiliate KLTV, running for cover, cameras were rolling. Take a look.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inside!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got to -</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inside! Go now!</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I've got to get -</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Inside!</s>BALDWIN: Those are the scenes from the crews covering the storm, but let's talk to some of those people hardest hit. You know, we heard from the mayor of Van a moment ago speaking - tearing welling in his eyes of so many people coming together, people searching for their loved ones, their belongings, their pets. Let me bring in Bryan Shurgot. He was on his way home when that tornado hit. And, Bryan, good to see you. I'm glad you appear a-OK. How are you? How are your loved ones and friends?</s>BRYAN SHURGOT, TORNADO SURVIVOR: Shook up and just really glad that somethings - some good stuff has happened. But just devastated that memories of my parents just - 30 years of their - of being in the same house just gone in an instant.</s>BALDWIN: You're referring to your parents' home. How damaged is it?</s>SHURGOT: About 80 percent gone.</s>BALDWIN: How much heads up did your parents have when they were able to at least get out and get to safety?</s>SHURGOT: Not much time. My mom and dad were thinking, you know, it was OK to go to bed and they were just about to go to bed and then my mom was coming out of the bathroom, about to go lay down with my dad, and then the storm hit and everything fell apart. It was just -</s>BALDWIN: Bryan -</s>SHURGOT: My dad - it was just devastating to them.</s>BALDWIN: I cannot even begin to be in your family's shoes. I've covered events like this. In fact, what struck me most is how hospitable and lovely people are despite the fact that homes are gone. But I'm hearing your voice cracking. This is, I imagine, quite emotional for you.</s>SHURGOT: Yes, because that's the house I called home for many years.</s>BALDWIN: What are you doing today?</s>SHURGOT: Just trying to help people - other people and just - try to just stay strong.</s>BALDWIN: Where were you when it hit? Tell me what you saw and what you heard.</s>SHURGOT: I was at the laundry mat and it was just starting to rain and I was talking with some people at the laundry mat saying, you know, I thought it was supposed to rain all - the rest of the day and I said, oh, well, here comes the rain that we were supposed to get earlier today and I said it would be interesting if we lost power because we were all doing laundry at the laundry mat and minutes later the power went out and the sirens went off and then all - and after the sirens went off, I got done with my laundry, folding it, put it in my car real quick, went to head back to where I live and then tried to get back to where I live and there was no way to get there. And then I - my roommate called me and said, it's bad out here, it's bad out here, try to get home. And I tried to get home and - then I was like - then I tried calling - she's like, I'm like, I'm worried about mom and dad, and I'm going to call them. And I tried getting ahold of my mom and dad and didn't really hear much from them. Then my mom and dad were getting out and they got outside and I was trying to come get them and ended up just having to park at a church and then had to walk towards their house because - and I rushed to get there because my mom - the neighbor said they were going to try to take care of my mom and get my mom calmed down and my dad calmed down. But my mom saw my dad with a flashlight and said, Richard, you're covered in blood. It just shook me and made me rush to get home.</s>BALDWIN: I am so sorry, Bryan, but I am at least thankful that your parents are OK. Your parents are OK. I understand, too, you know, you have - were you searching for your dog or dogs?</s>SHURGOT: There was one crew searching for my dog and they found her. It was great to see that they found her because my dad all night was saying, where's my baby, where's my baby? And he refers to the dog as his little baby because all of the rest of his kids have grown up and are on our own and we aren't living at home. And so just to have the comfort of a child, you know, it's like the little dog that's his like little child that's at home that he takes care of.</s>BALDWIN: Bryan, my dog is my baby as well and I am so glad she's OK. You have your health, your family, your dog. My heartbreaks for you, but I am so glad you are OK. Bryan Shurgot, thank you so much.</s>SHURGOT: Yes. Thank you.</s>BALDWIN: We are also following some breaking news now for you out of Florida. George Zimmerman has been shot in what police say is likely a road rage incident. Just two years after the 31-year-old was acquitted in the shooting death of unarmed teenager Trayvon Martin. So, Martin Savidge, let me bring you in and you can sort of start piecing this together for me. What - what happened?</s>MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Hey, Brooke. Yes, from what we're hearing right now, this was a shooting that, of course, involved George Zimmerman. It took place in Lake Mary, Florida. Lake Mary is located right next door to Sanford, Florida. And this is the statement that we got from the Lake Mary PE. And it says, "Lake Mary Police Department responded to Lake Mary Boulevard and Trail Head Park after reports of a shooting. Upon arrival, officers confirmed a shooting did occur. George Zimmerman was involved. We aren't releasing any additional information at this time. There were no fatalities. We will do a police briefing later today." It is said that the injuries, or the wound that George Zimmerman suffered, is described as minor. And then also you pointed out there, there is this report that it appears to be some kind of road rage incident. We don't know exactly how it happened. We don't know exactly who fired upon whom. But what we do know is that George Zimmerman, according to authorities, has suffered a minor gunshot wound, at least that's how it appeared to the first responders on the scene. And, of course, all of this is greatly being worked on right now. You're looking at aerials that show the area in which this took place. This is very near I-4. So it's a very busy and heavily trafficked area there in central Florida. Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: All right. So this is what's happening right now as we're trying to piece this together. But also, let's just back up a half step. Just remind everyone, beyond being acquitted for second-degree murder, I mean, he's made news since being acquitted, right? I mean there were allegations involving his girlfriend. He is no stranger to trouble.</s>SAVIDGE: Correct. Yes. He's had a number of allegations that have been made. Domestic violence. The charges have been brought and then charges have been dropped. And then, of course, there was, of course, the shooting death of 17-year-old Trayvon Martin. That was February 2012. The trial was a huge sensation in 2013. George Zimmerman was acquitted in that particular trial. But since then, he has not kept certainly a low profile. He has been involved in a number of controversial cases, and he has made a number of controversial statements. And now you have this incident here, which authorities are still trying to investigate. And it will be interesting to know, you know, in this altercation, was the other person, whoever it may be, aware that this was George Zimmerman? George Zimmerman is known to have a temper. In some way, is that what the road rage is referenced to by the authorities? We don't know. All of that is clearly being investigated. This only just recently happened, Brooke.</s>BALDWIN: All good questions. Martin Savidge, please stay on it for us. If you get more, we'll put you back on TV. Thank you very, very much.</s>SAVIDGE: We'll do.</s>BALDWIN: Next, just a short time from now, the first court appearance of these two men accused of killing two Mississippi police officers. And right now the families of these fallen officers, they're speaking out about who these men were. We have their stories coming up. Also, that nun featured in the movie "Dead Man Walking" takes the stand in the case of the Boston Marathon bomber. She met with Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in private multiple times. Hear what she had to say on the stand about what he shared with her. You're watching CNN. I'm Brooke Baldwin. We'll be right back.