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Now: Manhunt Underway For Gunman In Deadly Brown University Shooting; Legendary Director Rob Reiner And Wife Found Dead; JetBlue Flight Avoids Midair Collision With U.S. Military Aircraft. Aired 7:30-8a ET

Aired December 15, 2025 - 07:30   ET

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

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:31:35]

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right. Welcome back to Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island.

A stunning turn of events here -- breaking news. Police have now released the man who was detained as a person of interest in the deadly shooting that happened right in this building behind me on Saturday. Two people killed, nine injured.

Authorities overnight, in a dramatic overnight news conference, said there was really a lack of evidence to charge him, saying that the evidence they do have is pointing them in a different direction. Authorities are urging the public to send in tips, any video, any photos they may have that may help them in what is a renewed manhunt for a killer who is very much on the loose this morning.

With us now is Tristan Keyser-Parker. He is a senior here at Brown. He was in this engineering building when the shooting took place on Saturday. Come on in here, Tristan.

Let's start -- we spoke a number of times yesterday.

TRISTAN KEYSER-PARKER, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Yeah.

BERMAN: It's a dramatically different morning now that we know that this killer is still on the loose.

What was it like to get that news overnight?

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah, it was definitely a little bit scary. Last night we got that news around midnight and then right about then I think because people were scared there were a couple of reports of people who said they heard gunshots on campus. I believe it's been confirmed those were all false.

BERMAN: Yeah, I guess.

KEYSER-PARKER: But it was scary because everyone just kind of ran back to their dorms and locked themselves in their rooms. We could hear helicopters overhead and cop cars going by on the streets pretty fast.

One of the scary parts was a lot of people who were in the first shooting -- or not -- were, like, in that building, left their phones in the building. So it's hard to contact them this time to see if they were OK.

BERMAN: There was a wave of fear on this --

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah.

BERMAN: -- campus last night once they knew the shooter was still on the loose.

We're hearing from a number of people that they thought that there was something going on. It didn't turn out to be, but certainly understandable --

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah.

BERMAN: -- how scary that must have been.

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah. Just so glad that it turned out to not be a real thing, but really scary.

BERMAN: Um, does it make you now -- many if not most students have left at this point, or getting out. Does it make you want to just get out of here as soon as you can?

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah. I'm going to be getting out of here in a couple of hours. I'm going to see all my friends for breakfast once we're all awake -- to see them all, like, one last time -- especially the ones that are half-years and just graduated and will be leaving pretty much for good. And then, yeah, I'll be driving home.

BERMAN: So Tristan, walk us through again. That is the engineering building there. There was a principles of economics review session Saturday afternoon. You were in a separate room in that building. What unfolded during the shooting?

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah. So the room I was in was probably 100 feet from the room where the shooting was. So from my perspective what happened was I heard some kind of commotion and then I heard someone yelling that there was an intruder and we had to get out. I got a phone call about 20 seconds after that from a friend who was, like, get out of the engineering building. Um, he said that he heard what he thought were maybe shots while he was in the lobby and had run upstairs.

[07:35:00]

So I just tried to organize all of -- everyone -- especially the underclassmen -- and me and the other captains of the car team -- that was a lot of the people in there. Just tried to get everyone calmly but quickly out the back entrance of the building and out onto the street.

BERMAN: And had to shelter in place -- KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah.

BERMAN: -- all night. And I know you didn't -- your bags and your stuff is still in that building.

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah.

BERMAN: You're probably going to have to go home today without it, yes?

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah. At this point I think we're just going to have to go home without it. I live close enough that I'll be able to come back when they open it up. And some people will be on campus for a few more days because they, unfortunately, couldn't change their flights. Like, I have friends that might be able to get my stuff if they open it up, like, Tuesday or Wednesday.

I know they're prioritizing right now people who have identification and need to --

BERMAN: Right.

KEYSER-PARKER: -- fly home.

BERMAN: Oh.

KEYSER-PARKER: That's what they should be doing.

BERMAN: It's so difficult, Tristan, I have to say, and it keeps on getting I think more and more trying for everyone here.

We appreciate you continuing to talk to us and fill it in.

KEYSER-PARKER: Yeah.

BERMAN: Stay safe. Get home safely.

KEYSER-PARKER: Thank you. Thank you very much.

BERMAN: Kate, again, it's just been this dramatic series of events here. Tristan and other students yesterday were trying to piece through the grieving and understanding only to learn overnight that this investigation is still very much underway.

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Yeah, two steps forward and three steps back -- unclear. But it is -- as you said, this has hit a new chapter. This is a whole new level now as people are waking up this morning. We'll get right back to John who is on the scene.

We're also watching this, this morning. A Hollywood legend is dead, and an investigation is just now getting underway. Director Rob Reiner and his wife Michele found dead in their home yesterday. That shocking announcement came from their family.

And now, this morning, everyone is asking why and also paying tribute to a man seen as one of the most significant influential figures in the history of film and television. I mean, "When Harry Met Sally," "The Princess Bride," "A Few Good Men," and so much more.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB REINER, ACTOR, DIRECTOR: I've often said, you know, no matter what happens to me I'll always be, you know -- I could win the Nobel Prize, and they'll say Meathead wins Nobel.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rob Reiner needn't have worried. Yes, he was known for playing "Meathead" on "ALL IN THE FAMILY" but his career had a remarkable second act as a successful and versatile film director. From the mid-'80s to the early '90s Reiner had a phenomenal run directing a diverse range of films. He practically invented the mockumentary with his musical comedy "This Is Spinal Tap."

Scene from Embassy Pictures "This Is Spinal Tap."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: There was the Stephen King coming of age story "Stand By Me" and the modern fairy tale "The Princess Bride."

Scene from 20th Century Fox "The Princess Bride."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And the classic romantic comedy "When Harry Met Sally" --

Scene from Columbia Pictures "When Harry Met Sally."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: -- which had that famous line delivered by his mom, Estelle.

ESTELLE REINER, ACTRESS, ROB REINER'S MOTHER: I'll have what she's having.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Another Stephen King adaptation, "Misery," earned an Oscar for leading lady Kathy Bates.

Scene from MGM "Misery."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: While his military courtroom drama "A Few Good Men" had this famous exchange between Tom Cruise and Jack Nicholson.

Scene from Columbia Pictures "A Few Good Men."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rob, son of TV comedy pioneer Carl Reiner, found it a challenge to step out from his father's shadow.

R. REINER: Getting through the door is important but having staying power and being able to sustain a career, at least on the level of or exceed your famous father or mother, is very, very difficult. I mean, you're under an enormous pressure and scrutiny.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: He first earned fame in his own right as the liberal Mike Stivic on the groundbreaking 1970s TV sitcom "ALL IN THE FAMILY."

Scene from Columbia Pictures Television "ALL IN THE FAMILY." UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Stivic's arguments with his conservative bigoted father-in-law Archie Bunker were a hallmark of the show as they debated politics and social and cultural issues through comedy. The show earned Reiner two Emmy awards.

CHRIS WALLACE, BROADCAST JOURNALIST: The subjects you took on and the way that you approached them -- and we're talking the '70s --

R. REINER: Yeah.

WALLACE: -- were unheard of --

R. REINER: Right.

WALLACE: -- in television at the time.

R. REINER: Right.

WALLACE: How much resistance did you all get from CBS?

R. REINER: Tremendous resistance. At first, when the first -- the show first came on, they had a huge disclaimer that preceded the show. It was basically the show doesn't reflect the view of the network, blah, blah. Basically, it was saying we don't know how this show got on.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Like his "ALL IN THE FAMILY" character, Reiner was passionate about progressive candidates and causes. He supported Democratic presidential candidates and was an advocate for free preschool education.

Reiner would occasionally step back in front of the camera for small roles in films, like "Sleepless in Seattle."

Scene from Tri Star Pictures "Sleepless in Seattle."

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Rob Reiner was a character in his own right with an enduring body of work that reflects his generation's humor and passion.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

[07:40:00]

BOLDUAN: And joining us right now is the executive editor of Variety, Brent Lang, to talk more about this. Brent, thank you so much for jumping on with me this morning.

Can we first just talk and start with helping people understand just what a shock this is?

BRENT LANG, EXECUTIVE EDITOR, VARIETY (via Webex by Cisco): I mean, it's a seismic shock because Rob Reiner is such an outsized presence in the entertainment community. I mean, he's almost the mayor of Hollywood -- he's such an affable, genial person. And you would be hard-pressed to find people -- maybe they didn't always agree with him politically, but who just liked him on a personal level. He was that warm and outgoing and beloved, frankly.

BOLDUAN: Yeah. You can see it in his -- in the way that he talks publicly and in interviews and you can really feel it when you are around him. He is a -- he was a very, just jovial, happy, kind of effervescent man.

And he also wasn't headed into retirement, Brent. I mean, he was on CNN recently promoting "Spinal Tap II." I mean, that's kind of -- I don't know, adds to the pain here.

LANG: Absolutely. I mean, you can -- you can hear it in both of us even struggling to talk about him in the past tense. I mean, he remained a very active and engaged force. And it is true that, you know, the bulk of the classic movies that he made were in the '80s and the -- and the early '90s, but he was still making films like "Spinal Tap." He made a movie about LBJ. He made a documentary about his friend Albert Brooks. And he was very, very involved politically in different progressive causes.

BOLDUAN: Um, the actor -- I alluded to this a couple of times this morning already, but the actor Sean Astin was speaking on behalf of SAG-AFTRA and said -- and said it -- in another way what you did, calling Reiner one of the most significant figures in the history of film and television.

It's one of those things that you often -- you try to not overstate or blow things out of proportion when you're talking in the aftermath of a tragedy, but that really isn't blowing it out of proportion when it comes to him.

Can you talk more about his influence on the industry?

LANG: Yeah. I mean, I don't think that's hyperbolic at all. I mean, you have to look at what he did as an actor in "ALL IN THE FAMILY," which remains a seminal piece of television history. And then to slide behind the camera and have this really unique second act where he's directing films that are as varied as, you know, a fantasy like "The Princess Bride," a courtroom drama like "A Few Good Men," a horror thriller like "Misery." A romantic comedy -- one of the defining romantic comedies "When Harry Met Sally."

And he did it so nimbly. I mean, he really was able to bounce around from genre to genre and yet make something that was unique and distinctive and utterly memorable.

BOLDUAN: What are -- what else are you hearing from those in and around Hollywood?

LANG: I mean, I think right now there's just a sense of shock. There's also a desire for more answers -- and I -- and I -- I'm sure the police will have more information that's coming out today -- because Reiner and his wife Michele were big members of the Hollywood community. You know, for something like this -- a violent -- a violent crime like this to happen in an enclave like brentwood where so many people in Hollywood live, where they're raising their families, I think it just sends out shockwaves throughout this. You know, it still is an industry town and it's -- despite being a very major city there's a -- there's a kind of smalltown feel to the entertainment industry.

BOLDUAN: Yeah, especially Brentwood in and of itself has a kind of feeling of being its own town in and of itself.

Um, Brent, thank you so much. I really appreciate you coming on.

And to Brent's point, LAPD, overnight, did say that they hope to and look forward to having more information to release this morning, and we will bring that to you the moment we get it in.

Also new this morning -- what we're also tracking -- flight audio capturing the moment a JetBlue passenger plane nearly collides with a U.S. military plane.

And a remarkable day on the gridiron for a grandfather who was resigned to play less than a week ago.

(COMMERCIAL)

[07:48:20]

BOLDUAN: More severe weather headed to the Pacific Northwest just days after it was -- it was hit with record-breaking floods already. Washington State is one place that is bracing right now. The state saw intense rains last week as we covered that even washed away homes and forced evacuations, as you see there -- evacuations of tens of thousands of people.

Let's get over to CNN's Derek Van Dam. He's been tracking all of this. Derek, what are they about to face or what are they facing already?

DEREK VAN DAM, AMS METEOROLOGIST: Well -- so no rest for the weary, unfortunately. We had a brief lull over the weekend but that didn't allow much of a reprieve because the rain has set in already. It started to rain overnight and now we've got the onslaught of more heavy rain associated with this atmospheric river pointed right at the Pacific Northwest.

We call this the "Funnel of Water," right? A river in the sky, another way to look at it, because this moisture just comes in the form of heavy rain. It generally brings high snow levels. So the bulk of this falls as heavy precipitation.

And it is raining extremely hard in and around Seattle, Tacoma, southward into Portland. You can see the precipitation on the radar lighting it up like a Christmas tree -- more rain than anything. Interstate 5 very treacherous this morning in terms of ponding on the roadways.

But what's more concerning here is that last week we were talking about these rapid rises in rivers. The ground here is extremely saturated so additional rainfall in a saturated environment like this -- it doesn't take much for flash flooding, landslides, mudslides, and rapid rises in rivers once again.

We had record crests last week. The river started to recede somewhat over the course of the weekend in the lull of the rain, but the forecast calls for additional rivers to go into that major flood stage. And that is not what we need considering the devastation that was left behind from the flooding last week.

[07:50:10]

So we have several rounds of heavy rain all tapping into this moisture. We call it the "Pineapple Express" because it's got origins near Hawaii. And we're talking a level four of five for an atmospheric river -- not beneficial. It's actually more detrimental than anything -- Kate.

BOLDUAN: Um. Derek, thank you so much. We're going to be keeping close to you on this one. I really appreciate it.

VAN DAM: You got it.

BOLDUAN: Let's turn now to this. Let's turn now to sports. It was a huge comeback. The Bills down by 21 coming back in the end to beat the Patriots.

No one happier to see that than CNN's Coy Wire, watching it all and loving to see your former team win big.

COY WIRE, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Yeah, absolutely. The Bills -- they were down 21-0 against the Patriots in their worst deficit of the season.

But they're never out of it because of the reigning league MVP Josh Allen. He hit Dawson Knox here for one of three touchdown passes, Kate, and that was the lead in the fourth quarter. But this was an incredible game.

Patriots' rookie running back TreVeyon Henderson with help from an absurdly admirable effort and block from his quarterback Drake Maye. Sixty-five of his 148 yards and his second touchdown regained the lead for New England. But the next Bills' drive let James Cook -- 107 yards rushing, two touchdowns, including the game-winner there.

Buffalo wins 35-31. They're now just one game back of the Patriots in the division.

The Kansas City Chiefs -- they will miss the playoffs for the first time since 2014. The Chargers edging then out 16-13. But the Chiefs' worst loss, their all-world quarterback Patrick Mahomes, tearing his ACL late in the game. A wild piece of history, Kate. Both Mahomes and Tom Brady winning three Super Bowls, then tearing their ACLs in their ninth seasons as both of their teams missed the playoffs.

Mahomes posting afterwards, "Don't know why this had to happen. And not going to lie, it hurts. But all we can do now is trust in God and attack every single day over and over." He went on to say, "I will be back stronger than ever." The Chiefs' loss means there will be a new AFC West champion for the first time in a decade, and it will likely be the Broncos who are now 12-2 after beating the Packers 34-26. Bo Nix threw for 302 yards and four touchdowns. The Packers, though, also getting devastating injury news. Star edge player Micah Parsons believed to have torn his ACL after that non-contact injury you saw there. There will be more testing to confirm.

Finally, an unreal comeback. Philip Rivers retired in 2021 but signed with the Colts last week. Started against the Seahawks and threw a touchdown pass in an 18-16 loss. He's been coaching high school football, Kate. Check out the reaction back in Fairhope, Alabama -- his team there. Rivers is 44 years old. He is a grandfather.

He was emotional, hoping his story inspires youngsters back home and beyond.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

PHILIP RIVERS, QUARTERBACK, INDIANAPOLIS COLTS: I think of my sons and those ballplayers, you know, that I'm in charge of at the school -- uh, that they'll say I'm proud. Coach wasn't scared, you know. Sometimes you -- there is doubt and it's real. And you -- again, you can -- you can -- the guaranteed safe bet is to -- is to go home or to -- or to not go for it, and the other one is shoot, let's see what happens.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

WIRE: Incredible stuff, Kate. He has 10 children, so he and his kids -- they could field their own football team if they wanted to.

I retired 15 years ago. I played against him. What he's doing is absolutely incredible.

BOLDUAN: Do you -- what do you think? You think you could get back at it today?

WIRE: Oh, give me a shot. I could be a long snapper, maybe. Maybe I could do that.

BOLDUAN: Of course, you could. The answer is --

WIRE: I'd want to go play against those Patriots.

BOLDUAN: of course, you could. Of course, you could.

WIRE: Of course, we could.

BOLDUAN: You are the one and only, Coy Wire.

WIRE: Thank you.

BOLDUAN: What a good -- what a great story. That's going to be great to watch.

WIRE: Awesome.

BOLDUAN: Coy, thank you so much.

WIRE: You got it.

BOLDUAN: Let's turn now to this. There is dramatic video coming in of the moment a raging river -- just look at that -- tears through a bridge in Montana. The major atmospheric river had been hammering the region with rain for days. You can see that moment that concrete slab just hits the water, destroying the bridge and also cutting off access to the road.

The sheriff's office says that at least five bridges across Lincoln County were damaged or destroyed. They have a long-term mess then on their hands, as you well know.

Also this. A JetBlue plane flying off the coast of Venezuela halted its ascent to avoid a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker. The pilot of the commercial flight is now blaming the military plane for crossing his path. Let me play for you what he told air traffic control during the incident.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

JETBLUE PILOT: We almost had a midair collision up here. We just had traffic pass directly in front of us -- within five miles of us -- maybe two or three miles. But it was an air-to-air refueler from the United States Air Force. They don't have their transponder turned on. It's outrageous. We had to stop our climb and actually descend to avoid hitting them."

(END VIDEO CLIP)

[07:55:10]

BOLDUAN: Yeah. Worth noting this comes at the same time as the U.S. military has stepped up in a huge way its presence in that region to carry out the president's military campaign targeting drug trafficking in the Caribbean and then also increase pressure on Venezuela's leader.

A 61-year-old man was killed after a U-Haul truck exploded in an Idaho shopping center parking lot Saturday, and investigators say it was an accident caused by a leak -- by leaking propane tanks stored in the back of the truck. The explosion so big it also caused damage to some nearby businesses, including -- you saw there -- a Courtyard Marriott and an Old Navy nearby.

This morning jury deliberations are set to resume in the -- in the murder trial of Brian Walshe. The father of three -- we followed it day-by-day -- is charged with killing his wife Ana. He has admitted to illegally disposing of her body but says he did not kill her. The jury deliberated for nearly four hours on Friday after hearing eight days of witness testimony.

Walshe was at one point planning to take the stand but then the defense team changed course, ending with the defense resting its case Thursday morning without presenting any evidence.

With us now, CNN legal analyst and criminal defense attorney Joey Jackson. Joey, thank you so much for being here.

JOEY JACKSON, CNN LEGAL ANALYST, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY, FORMER PROSECUTOR: Of course.

BOLDUAN: So as we are waiting for jury deliberations this morning to pick back up, what does the jury consider now? What does a path to a verdict look like here?

JACKSON: Good morning, Kate.

I think a path looks like a jury determining whether this was premeditated, whether it was intentional, or whether it was nothing. Now, here's the distinction.

In the event that it was premeditated, you have to show some planning, but the rub in that is that you don't have to show what may be conventionally thought of as if you're planning for days, you're planning for weeks. You're getting your act together. Premeditation could be formed in an instant such that hey, I'm going through the traffic light, I think I'll take it -- boom.

And so they have to decide is there enough premeditation to convict on first-degree murder. If they don't, Kate -- and it's significant because first-degree murder carries life without parole, OK? No death penalty in this jurisdiction.

Second-degree murder, they're deciding intent. Whether or not it was an intentional killing in the absence of premeditation. The significance of that, eligible for parole after 15 to 25 years.

Or they could consider it was nothing. But based upon the compelling nature of this case it's likely and probable that they may end up either at murder one or murder two.

BOLDUAN: One of the things -- I mean, it really did come as kind of a twist in what had been many twists with this trial and case.

What do you think of the choice of the defense team not only -- and I -- you've told me this a million times that you --

JACKSON: Yeah.

BOLDUAN: -- I think basically never will tell a defendant to take the stand -- but also this -- them resting their case right away and not really presenting a case or presenting any evidence.

JACKSON: So I'll say this. Yes, it's true that the defense has no burden of proof.

BOLDUAN: Right.

JACKSON: It's true that the defense can literally sleep at the table and do nothing because the burden always stays with the state. Here, though, I'm somewhat concerned because at -- in opening

statements the defense really put their client at issue by saying something to the effect of you'll learn from Brian Walshe. That piqued my interest because it was to the extent that, hey, he would testify.

And then this theory that they have -- that is, the defense -- that the wife died suddenly, unexplainably. And there was actually a medical examiner that testified for the prosecution who, indeed, said hey, someone can die suddenly who is otherwise healthy. Factors like stress, factors like anxiety, factors like traveling, et cetera could contribute to that.

But they didn't put on any evidence to substantiate it in addition to which the defense was saying in their opening that their client, right, Brian Walshe, got into bed with his wife who he loved. She rolled over; she fell. So how do you say that to a jury and don't have the evidence for the jury to consider that was true or not true?

And so that's why I'm somewhat concerned as to the defense not putting on a case at all.

BOLDUAN: If he is convicted or, I guess we could say it both ways -- or if he is not convicted --

JACKSON: Yeah.

BOLDUAN: -- what do you think will be the key? I mean, there are lots of things that --

JACKSON: Sure.

BOLDUAN: -- the jury -- right -- her body was never found. Like, there's a lot that -- well, there's a lot here.

JACKSON: Yeah.

BOLDUAN: There's a lot that was left out.

JACKSON: Well, to the left out portion --

BOLDUAN: Yeah.

JACKSON: -- whenever you don't have a body, Kate, you don't have the benefit of an autopsy.

BOLDUAN: Right.

JACKSON: The benefit of an autopsy will tell you the cause and manner of death, right? But you don't give a defendant the benefit of the doubt because they are wise enough and clever enough to allegedly dispose of the body.

So I think the lynchpin here that the jury has to go on is all the activities. The Googling with regard to disposing of a body.

BOLDUAN: Yeah. JACKSON: With regard to how long it takes a body to smell. The surveillance -- seeing him throwing body remains of his wife in trash cans. Lying to the police repeatedly and constantly. Doing a lot of things to throw the police off. That's somewhat problematic. In addition to the motivation -- hey, you know, she was involved in an affair. He could very well have been jealous and as a result done that. That's the prosecution's theory.

We'll see what the jury determines.