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Brown University Shooter Still at Large and Detained Person Released; Hollywood Legend and Staunch Political Activist Rob Reiner Dead at 78. Aired 3:30-4p ET

Aired December 15, 2025 - 15:30   ET

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

[15:30:00]

BRYAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: This is a medical building, but right beyond here there's an apartment building, just beyond those trees, and beyond that there's a large house. It's a very, you know, nice old street here in Providence, and that's what you're looking at. Those are the properties that they've been doing this, as you, I think, correctly said, a grid search.

I'll tell you what, there's a lot of news crews here, so I'm going to have Effie switch over here, and you can see -- excuse us guys, we're going to walk past this one news crew -- they're doing it over here too. You can see this -- this is Waterman Street.

They're doing it all over this block, guys. Now, we do know that they found shell casings. I don't know exactly where it was.

It might have been in the building, but they did find shell casings, of course, near the scene of the shooting on Saturday. Are they looking for shell casings now? We're not quite sure what they're looking for, but they've been doing that kind of a search. And these ladies and gentlemen of the FBI, we have asked them repeatedly, like, can you tell us anything about what you're looking for?

And they just kind of shake their heads no.

BRIANNA KEILAR, CNN HOST: So, we're understanding that there is a news conference coming up here in about an hour and a half. The Providence mayor is going to be joining local police and other law enforcement officials in that to provide an update on the shooting. You know, what are some of the outstanding questions at this point?

I mean, obviously, it's how much progress are they making on the shooter? What are they looking for as you see them doing this kind of grid search? What else are we expecting we might hear about?

TODD: Well, Brianna, it's a very good question. We're not sure exactly what we're going to hear about in that 5 p.m. news conference. What I can tell you is this.

The person in the video, we're told by police and law enforcement officials, the person in both of these videos is the same person. It is the person that the police chief has said we believe is responsible for the shooting. The attorney general just told me that's the main person of interest that they have right now.

And I asked a police major just a short time ago, do you have a name? Have you identified that person? He said, no, we have not.

And earlier last night, actually, the Mayor of Providence, Brett Smiley, said there's no way we have of knowing whether the person is in Providence or even in the state. And I just asked the attorney general about that as well. A few moments ago, he said that is still the case.

They don't know the person's name, according to police and other officials. They don't know if this person is in state or out of state. As these FBI people walk past us, we can just kind of take a walk with them here.

I'm sorry, guys, can you tell us again possibly what you're looking for?

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: I can't.

TODD: OK.

All right, so you had it there. They can't tell us what they're looking for. But you can see their evidence response people.

So there you have it, guys. One new piece of video evidence that they've just released to the public, which shows a figure from the side across the street walking. The figure is pretty indistinguishable.

Frankly, the first piece of video they released was better in quality than that. You could see a little bit more of the person walking around that corner. Let's go over here and kind of get past these folks.

They're gathering here and just discussing what they want to do next. Sorry, go ahead -- Boris.

BORIS SANCHEZ, CNN HOST: Just to sort of update our viewers on where we are in the investigation. Over the weekend after the shooting at Brown University in an engineering building, there was a person of interest that was detained and soon after was released. We've just learned from the attorney general of Rhode Island confirming that that previously detained person has been cleared in the investigation.

So they're looking essentially for another person of interest now that was captured on video, as Brian was just describing. First in a video that was taken from an angle behind the person who was walking away from the campus and then one from across the street. And as we've been watching, FBI evidence teams have been scouring that area, searching for evidence.

And I wonder, Brian, if you could describe for us just how far you are from that engineering building, if you have any awareness of where you are in relation to where this video of this apparent suspect was captured. TODD: OK, so Boris, as far as the video and where we are in relation to that, I don't know that and I could not tell you that right now. As far as the relation from this spot to where the shooting occurred. OK, that is down this block, about a block, and then left on Hope Street and it is down a couple of blocks that way. So we're, I would say, maybe five blocks, I don't want to be quoted on this, but maybe five or so blocks from the scene of the shooting.

As for the scene of where the video was taken, I can't establish a relationship between this and that at this time. But we're told that, yes, the person -- that is the main person of interest that's in the video right now. And they do not have a name.

I pressed them on a name. I just asked the police major. Do you have a name? Do you have an identification of that person?

[15:35:00]

He said, no, we do not.

And as you mentioned, it was the attorney general who told me a short time ago that that initial person of interest who they had apprehended on Sunday and then released, I said, did you release him because you just don't have enough evidence to hold him?

Is he completely off the table? And he said, yes, he's cleared. He is off the table. They're looking for that person in the video.

KEILAR: Yes, that video. And obviously they're hoping that video will lead to some tips, maybe someone who recognizes them, even as most of us certainly would not be able to. You can see how they walk, maybe you can see their clothes and those details can yield tips.

So we'll see what happens. Brian, if you could stay with us, stand by for us. We're going to have more on this.

Obviously, a lot happening there in Providence. We'll be taking a quick break. We'll be right back.

[15:40:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: Just moments ago, we learned that officials in Providence, Rhode Island are holding a news conference at 5 p.m. Eastern to update the investigation on that mass shooting at Brown University.

KEILAR: Yes, let's go back to Brian Todd, who is in Providence, where he's shadowing law enforcement agents, actually members of the FBI recovery team. Is that right, Brian? What are you seeing?

TODD: Right, Brianna. That was an evidence response team and other officials of the FBI who are scouring this area. Now, we have examined that second video of the person walking, the person of interest walking from across the street. On an imprint of that video, it says the address is 144 Waterman Street from where the camera is. This is 144 Waterman Street. There is a camera right there.

If you want to just tilt up a little bit, you can see the camera at the corner of that building. The new video is from, we believe, we strongly believe the new video could be from that camera there looking across the street here to where this figure was walking. So we do believe at this point that this is where -- this is why these FBI agents were here this afternoon, scouring and doing that grid search along here, kicking snow.

You can still see their tracks here from where they kicked snow away to try to find something. That new surveillance video that was just released, we are strongly of the belief that that was looking across here of the figure walking this way on the sidewalk.

SANCHEZ: And it was fascinating to watch that live as these investigators were canvassing the area. Brian Todd will let you get back to your reporting. Keep us posted when you hear something new.

Let's discuss the situation on campus. Joining us now from Providence is Brown University student, Ref Bari. Ref, thank you so much for being with us.

You were leaving the physics office, but when all of this unfolded and you said you shared with our team that you were heading downstairs, when did you first learn that something was happening, that there was a shooting on your campus?

REF BARI, BROWN UNIVERSITY STUDENT: Yes, well, it happened all behind me. So I learned in the moment that there was a shooter behind me. So what was happening was I had just left the physics master's office, which is on the first floor of Barus and Holley, the physics and engineering building.

I had just spoken with my satellite team, the T-Rex team, and I was heading to the diner because I was hungry. And as I started to descend down these stairs, I suddenly heard this pop, pop, pop, pop, seven or eight pop sounds that were very punctual that I never heard anything like that before. And I was confused at first.

I glanced behind me and the lobby was empty. There was nobody in the lobby. So I was sure that I misheard something.

But then the pops kept continuing. And that's when I ran.

KEILAR: And at some point you call your parents. Tell us about that.

BARI: Yes, so what happened was, so even though the lobby behind me was empty, the entire ERC, like where the commons area is, was full of about 100 students. So the moment that the second series of gunshots started, that's when everyone, there was like a mass scramble for the exits. So it's 100 kids trying to push through two doors.

And so I tried to run from Barus and Holley as fast as I could, as far as I could. And I called my -- I FaceTimed my dad. And I don't know how, but I just hit FaceTime.

My dad was the last person I spoke to. And I was like, dad, dad, there's a shooting, there's a shooting. And my parents were like, I'm sorry, my parents were watching helplessly from New York.

They couldn't do anything, obviously. But yes.

SANCHEZ: What was going through your mind in those moments? I mean, you were in a very vulnerable position. I wonder, you know, were you scared?

BARI: I, I was -- it was like a run for my life. I knew that my life and everyone's life depended on us getting as far away from Barus and Holley as possible, as quickly as possible. And the weird thing is that when I ran across the street to the science library, people were coming out of the science library like it was a regular Saturday.

Nobody in the science library had any idea what was unfolding literally next door. So I started screaming, active shooter, active shooter, run. And a couple kids started running the other way when I started screaming that.

[15:45:00]

My dad was still on FaceTime. And I kept running down Thayer Street. And I saw -- so there was one girl who was also running in the same direction as I was. And I just tapped her on the shoulder. And I asked her, hey, are you running from Barus and Holley? And she's like, yes.

And I asked her if she knew what was going on. And she said, I think there were gunshots inside. And I asked her where she's going.

And she said she's going to her apartment, which is in a basement near Thayer Street. So I asked if I could hide with her. And I mean, I don't know why.

Like in a moment when you shouldn't trust anyone, she took like an enormous amount of trust in me. Her name is Allie. And so Allie, I, and her friends hid in her bathroom for two hours.

KEILAR: Oh, I know. You're so grateful to her for doing that. And she really did certainly the right thing by you there.

Can you talk a little bit about, for people who aren't familiar with this building on campus, which is almost everyone who's watching this, right? How do you get in? I mean, is there security?

Is there a way to keep people out?

BARI: Yes. So Barus and Holley is the physics and engineering building of Brown University. And so there's an old part of the building and there's a newly renovated part of the building.

The old part is the physics end and the newly renovated part is the engineering end. And there's a staircase that connects the two ends. And that's the staircase that I was walking down towards when I heard the shooter.

And the building has swipe control. So like you have to swipe to get in. But generally speaking on weekends and on days where there are final exams and stuff, the swipe access is usually open.

And so even if you don't have swipe access, you could potentially get in.

SANCHEZ: Ref, we were just watching a reporter as he was witnessing FBI teams canvas through an area not far from where you are right now. This is still an active investigation. The shooter is still out there and investigators don't yet have a name.

They don't have, as far as we know, what the suspect looks like. Just, you know, a video of someone walking down the street, kind of shaded in the distance. Do you feel safe right now knowing that the person who perpetrated this, who made you run for your life, is still out there?

BARI: I mean, it's insane, right? Like I -- there's no question that this is anxiety-inducing and this is the scariest moment for not just me but all of my friends. At the same time, Brown has disposed like all of its resources to try to help us.

So even like my professor, like Professor Keith, he put us in touch with the counseling services at Brown and the psychological services. So I feel that Brown is doing the best that it can to help support the students. But I mean, this -- I'm trying not to use the worst language possible that I can to describe this guy, but I hope that, you know, he gets punished to the worst extent possible of the law when he's caught.

SANCHEZ: Well, hopefully at 5 p.m. we'll hear an update from police that gives us some measure of hope that they're getting closer to catching this person. Ref Bari, thank you so much for sharing your story with us. We're glad that you're OK.

BARI: Thank you. Thank you, guys.

SANCHEZ: Of course. Stay with CNN. We'll be right back.

[15:50:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

SANCHEZ: As we remember Rob Reiner for his wide-ranging film and TV career, he was also an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump. Earlier, the president posted an incendiary political message suggesting that Rob Reiner's death somehow stemmed from his criticism from Trump Derangement Syndrome, said the president. The post drew criticism from several lawmakers on both sides of the aisle.

KEILAR: We last spoke to Reiner after ABC's decision to suspend Jimmy Kimmel over comments that the comic made on Charlie Kirk's assassination, and here was what he told us.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ROB REINER, DIRECTOR, PRODUCER, SCREENWRITER, ACTOR AND POLITICAL ACTIVIST: War. We're in a war right now for our democracy. You know, Trump has declared war on this democracy.

I mean, first of all, he throws people out of the country without due process. He takes funds that were appropriated by Congress, refuses to distribute them in clear contradiction to the Constitution, separation of powers. He's browbeating businesses and universities and law firms.

I mean, this is -- this is way beyond just Jimmy Kimmel. We're fighting 200 -- This is a man who is a convicted felon and adjudicated sex offender and business fraud.

And he has decided that our 250 years of American democracy is going to be wiped out within the -- and is doing it within the last eight months. Well, there's a lot of people, not just the show business community. There are a lot of people all over this country that not going to stand for this.

And we're going to start organizing. You have to understand this is to me is a very personal thing, aside from the fact that I'm in show business. I'm already a libtard. I'm already a pariah.

I understand what the Trump administration. But this is way, way beyond that for me. It's very personal. My wife, her mother was in Auschwitz. Her whole family died there. Her mother was the only one that survived.

[15:55:00]

My uncle Charlie was part of the D-Day invasion. My second father, Norman Lear, flew 52 bombing missions over Nazi Germany so that we would -- and millions of people died so that we would never, ever have what we are seeing happen now here in America. It's unconscionable.

You are not going to take 250 years, that shining city on a hill, the beacon to the rest of the world, which is now looked down upon by our allies, and destroy it. We're just not going to stand for it. And there's a lot of people that are going to be standing up in the near future.

And you're going to see a big pushback. There's no question about it. He's declared war on the First Amendment, on the Constitution, and we're not going to take it.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

SANCHEZ: That was the outspoken Rob Reiner. And we just got more news. It turns out that the Reiner's daughter, Romy Reiner, was actually the one that discovered her parents' body when she visited their home after they were attacked yesterday.

Now their son is facing potential charges. He's detained, and he's suspected of being behind their deaths.

Thanks so much for joining CNN NEWS CENTRAL this afternoon. "THE ARENA" with Kasie Hunt starts after a quick break.

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END