Trump Reacts to News of Deadly Synagogue Shooting; Witness Describes Shooting at Synagogue.
ANA CABRERA, CNN ANCHOR, NEWSROOM: We're following breaking news. I'm Ana Cabrera. You are live in the CNN Newsroom. Another shooting at a house of worship on the final day of Passover. The mayor of Poway reporting one person is dead, three are injured after gunfire rang out at the Chabad Poway Synagogue in what the mayor is calling a hate crime. We do know a man was detained for questioning and local police say there is no ongoing threat. Following this story for us, CNN's Ryan Young along with CNN Law Enforcement Analysts, and former FBI agents, Josh Campbell and James Gagliano, and former assistant secretary at the Department of Homeland Security, Juliette Kayyem. Josh, I want to start with you. What are you hearing? What have you learned? OK, let me -- let me turn to Ryan Young and get the very latest information from you. Ryan, what can you tell us about what happened?</s>RYAN YOUNG, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, some tough details that you just confirmed with that mayor, the fact that one person has died in this shooting. And, in fact, when we had that reporter on earlier from the local affiliate there, he talked about maybe the rabbi having his fingers blown off during the shooting. We know three other people have been shot. We have been told they did suffer nonlife-threatening gunshots so far. But when you think about this, on last day of Passover, having someone come into a synagogue and open fire. We do know this happened around 11:30 this morning. Police acting very quickly to get to the scene. That last person that we had talking before a witness, who talked about hearing five or six shots and then the screaming that was going on afterwards, apparently there were several people who were inside the synagogue who tried to confront the shooter. And then, a short time later, the sheriff's department was able to corral that person and take them into custody. They are investigating this as a hate crime. But then, on top of that, in an extreme caution, the San Diego Police Department is making sure extra patrols are set up around all places of worship. So, we have, at this point, 22 miles outside the city of San Diego. You have this shooting that happened around 11:30. We do know one person has been shot and killed. Three others who have been injured who have been shot but nonlife threatening injuries. And when you hear the information from the witnesses on the scene, you can understand how terrified they are. But, at this point, we're still learning information. And we do know a news conference is coming soon. Let's not forget this is considered a hate crime, at this point, according to the mayor.</s>CABRERA: OK. Ryan, stand by. Our Josh Campbell has been working his sources on this story. Josh, we just spoke with the mayor of Poway who said that they believe this is a hate crime because of words they heard from this suspect who is now, presumably, in custody. The man that they say they have been taken in for questioning. What can you tell us about how they may be going about this? And, in fact, if they have this as a hate crime now, what does it mean?</s>JOSH CAMPBELL, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, first, Ana, let me say that that was good that you pressed him on that. Because it's one thing for an elected official to describe an incident, and it's something very different from a prosecutor or a law enforcement officer to describe it. And it sounds as though, after you had pressed him, what we learned is that he's basing his assessment on what witnesses heard during the act which is going to be a key piece of evidence for the investigation. Again, if the subject didn't admit himself to law enforcement officers what he did, if he's not proud of what he's doing, if he is not cooperating, then that witness testimony becomes very key and then that, obviously, becomes a large part of that investigation, what was motivating him. And if it was hatred, then this is an entirely different case. One thing that will be interesting for us to note, as we learn from law enforcement officers at their press conferences. What were -- what were the circumstances surrounding his arrest? We know that it took place, at least according to witness testimony, outside the facility. Whenever they arrived, did he surrender? Was there some type of exchange between the subject and law enforcement officers? That we don't yet know. But, again, it helps us build out this picture of what this person was intending. Did he intend to go and get captured, and, you know, again, be proud of what he did? Did he want to go out in some type of a change of the law enforcement? That we don't yet know. But, again, those will be the details that we'll be looking for from authorities.</s>CABRERA: And, James, how do police so quickly determine that there's no ongoing threat?</s>JAMES GAGLIANO, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, in this instance, Ana, I have to believe that they're going to use the public safety exception. Now, the public safety exception is the part where you can do away with Miranda rights. So, you're going to talk to the subject who's in your custody in a clear, specific and focused manner regarding the incident that just occurred. And that public safety exception allows you to ask him questions. And, of course, the first question I'd ask, is anybody else involved? Are there any other imminent threats? Is anyone else in imminent danger? Is this it? Was it just you? And then, going beyond that, now build that out. Because, obviously, somebody like this, if this is -- in fact, does turn out to be a hate crime, which it, obviously, clearly, looks like from the outside, then to determine who else he was in contact with. We talk about this all the time in terrorism. Was this person inspired? Was this person directed to do this or was this person enabled? Those are the two things -- there are three things: inspired, directed or enabled. And find out if there is anybody else who could have been part and parcel of this to make it a conspiracy. Beyond that, again, that's the most important fact is just get out there and make certain that there is nobody else that's in imminent danger, there are no subsequent plans for any other attacks anywhere else. And then, put together a rock-solid case to send this person away for a long time.</s>CABRERA: Juliette, it's the last day of Passover. It's been six months since the synagogue shooting in Pittsburgh. Given the recent attacks we've also seen at Christ Church, New Zealand, and what we saw last weekend in Sri Lanka. How much has surveillance and security ramped up at houses of worship here in the U.S.?</s>JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: Significantly so. Pittsburgh, in particular, especially at synagogues. And the challenge in this kind of security is, of course, you don't want a fortress synagogue. The whole points of synagogues or mosques or churches is to be welcoming to not just congregants, but, of course, strangers. Right? That you are welcoming the -- welcoming them in. The combination of this anniversary date six months with Passover, and, of course, now what we've heard from the mayor, that things were said that one has to interpret as this being a hate crime, you obviously will be of concern. Not just in California, but, of course, nationwide. Given the context of these kinds of attacks on minority religions here in the United States, we still have a lot to determine what happened here. But if you -- but if you are, sort of, worried about security at these synagogues or mosques or churches or wherever else, that is something that has been addressed. I will say one thing, someone -- the mayor I think said there was security at the synagogue. We don't know what that means. But we do know that this was not an incident that seemed to last a long time. And it does seem that the assailant was either taken down by civilians or at maybe a police presence. That is good news. But the challenge of being welcoming, because it's your faith with security, is something that, unfortunately, we're never going to get perfectly right, because these places want to -- these places of worship want to be welcoming.</s>CABRERA: Josh, if this is investigated now as a hate crime, does that, sort of, alter how police do their job and how this is processed?</s>CAMPBELL: So, at the outset, the basics of the investigation will be at play, gathering information about the subject, gathering information about people in his orbit. We can expect the law enforcement officers will be conducting search warrants on any type of social media, if he has it, his communication devices, his place of residence. All of that is textbook law enforcement investigation. Now, what happens with the hate crime, that -- if it is, indeed, determined that by prosecutors, then that will determine what happens at the prosecutive phase and what type of punishment then comes. It will be interesting for us to wait and see whether or not the state of California prosecutes that here, there are enhancements under the state law as far as working on hate crimes, or if the federal government asserts federal jurisdiction here, and then you see federal prosecutors coming in and them going that route. That we don't yet know. But to your question. Right now, it's the basic investigative steps that are underway to get to that motive to get to why this person showed up today and did exactly what he did.</s>CABRERA: And, Ryan, what more are we hearing now from witnesses?</s>YOUNG: Yes, absolutely. I think one of the things that stood out to us when the mayor was talking to you as well was he was talking about how safe this city was. And then, you had the people who were there who said, basically, this will not stop them from going to their synagogue. That they will not be deterred. And you could hear that women talking about the fact that her husband was on the inside when this shooting happened. But when you hear about those facts that we've learned so far, like the man who was nearby and heard the gunshots one after another. He believed he heard six. Then, he heard screaming and yelling. Then, you had another witness basically telling that reporter who was on scene that the rabbi might have had his fingers blown off. Then, you had someone else basically saying that someone was able to tackle maybe the shooter or take that person on. You see the interactions when the people are being very upfront. I will want to say something else. The last time we covered something like this, I know there were synagogues across the country that started beefing up their security. And some of them even hiring private security themselves, to make sure they were ready for any sort of threat. So, you have to understand maybe they have a heightened sense of awareness, at this point. But, at the same time, you understand how painful this has to be, especially on the last day of Passover. We know the San Diego Police Department are stepping up their patrols in areas around places of worship, at this point, because of this recent shooting.</s>CABRERA: We heard from a member of the congregation just a moment ago. She said her husband was inside at the time of the shooting. Let's listen.</s>MINOO ANVARI: My husband called and he said that there has been a shooting in the synagogue. And, unfortunately, one of my friends is down and my rabbi has been injured. Two other people are injured. And that one guy came and shoot everybody and cursing. And, of course, they took them to hospital and we are praying for them. But just one message from all of us, from our congregation, that we are standing together. We are getting stronger. Never again. You can't break us. We are strong. You can't break us. We all are together.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Was there an -- was there a service going on, an event going on there?</s>ANVARI: It's Pesach (ph), the last day of Passover, an escor (ph) which is a very important ceremony for us.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And the description of -- you said what -- you said it was a guy?</s>ANVARI: It was a guy, yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And he was screaming. He was cursing.</s>ANVARI: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do you have another description of what he looks like?</s>ANVARI: Yes. Yes. And since that day, he has been arrested.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And who is your friend that was shot or what do you know about --</s>ANVARI: I can't -- I can't tell -- say her name but it's my -- one of my friends.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: How do -- where was your husband?</s>ANVARI: My husband is shocked. Shocked like any -- like everybody else. This community, it's unbelievable. We are talking about Poway, a very peaceful place. Everybody knows everybody. It's like a (</s>INAUDIBLE.) UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Rabbi Goldstein does things for everybody.</s>ANVARI: Rabbi Goldstein is such a nice man. He -- everybody knows him. He's so friendly. He goes everywhere. And why? The question is why? People are praying. If you have guts, go and fight people that you have to fight. Don't kill innocent people.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And your husband was inside, you said, during that?</s>ANVARI: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That's how you found out?</s>ANVARI: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, my gosh. And he's OK but he's just shocked?</s>ANVARI: He is shocked.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And this -- what else did you hear from him? What else did he have to say?</s>ANVARI: He just -- he is shocked. He can't talk. He has high blood pressure, unfortunately. So, I'm hoping that they let him come -- they release him earlier.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you are parishioners of the church -- what's the name of the synagogue exactly?</s>ANVARI: It's Chabad of Poway.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chabad of Poway?</s>ANVARI: Yes.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And you would be -- what would you -- what would you call yourself, parishioners or would you call members?</s>ANVARI: I'm a member. One of the members.</s>UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Members, got you. Members.</s>ANVARI: Yes.</s>CABRERA: Again, that from a member of the Chabad of Poway. The latest shooting taking place in a house of worship. And I just keep coming back to this thought, James, going on that, I mean, we've been covering this all too often now, right, in churches. Last weekend in mosques, not too long ago in New Zealand, the Pittsburgh synagogue shooting just six months ago. What is going on?</s>JAMES GAGLIANO, CNN ANALYST: Yes, it's having a chilling effect not only on the United States, but on the world. I mean, to your point, six months ago today, it was October 27th of last year that the Tree of Life Synagogue shooting took place. Eleven people killed, seven wounded in the largest attack on the Jewish community in our country's 243-year history. You then fast forward and, boom, we're dealing with two attacks in mosques in New Zealand, followed by the attacks at the Christian churches last weekend on Easter, and now this today. And, Ana, I've got to tell you, terrorism has a particular point. And, yes, it's the people that get killed or hurt or maimed, but it's also the chilling effect it has on the community and on the country and on the world.</s>CABRERA: Yes.</s>GAGLIANO: And it's the same thing with hate crimes. People ask all the time, well, if somebody hits somebody because they don't like him because of this, that or the other, why would you give them additional charges? And the reason is hate crime statutes are there because of the chilling effect it has on people. It is a form of terrorism. And if what we're hearing now about this is true, that this individual entered into this house of worship on one of their high holy days and looked to kill and maim and injure innocent people, this is absolutely a hate crime. And just last week, a 1998 case, the James Byrd dragging death, one of those hate crime perpetrators and terrorists was put to death. We do have the death penalty in place for these and I -- and I trust that they're going to seek at least, you know, life in prison or the death penalty in an innocent like this if there -- if there was a casualty here where somebody had a fatality.</s>CABRERA: Josh, how is it distinguished between a hate crime and terrorism in a situation like this?</s>CAMPBELL: Well, so, on the federal side, there is no federal domestic terrorism statute, for example. But there is a way that investigators can look at it under a federal hate crime. And that is, again, if they meet the certain threshold, where prosecutors at the Department of Justice and the local U.S. Attorneys Office say, we're going to take this federal. Then, they will come in and assert federal jurisdiction. But regardless of whether it goes federal or state, it gets to that motivation. Did this person come there for the purpose of killing people, injuring people, harming people because of their faith? That is one of the protected classes that would fall under the prevue of a hate crime. And if they can prove that, which it sounds like, based on the witness testimony we were hearing about from the mayor, that that is a likelihood. And we'll have to wait and see what it is that he had actually said whenever he went in and conducted this attack. Then, obviously, that is evidence that investigators will use. We'll also have to wait and see. Again, based on the unfortunately fact that we've seen many of these, oftentimes these people will have, you know, manifestos or some type of online writing or musings perhaps in throughout investigating and talking to witnesses that knew this person, they may learn additional details about him. Again, that will all get to that state of mind. If it turns out that this person -- a person who had a grief against Jews and wanted to go act that out, then that is a -- appears to be a slam-dunk case of a hate crime. And it will be up to prosecutors to prosecute him to the fullest extent of the law.</s>CABRERA: OK, thank you. And everyone stand by. We do expect police to bring us an update on this shooting in just a short time from now. When that happens, we will bring to you. Please stay right there as we monitor this, yet another shooting at a house of worship in America.