Return to Transcripts main page

CNN News Central

Urgent Manhunt for Brown University Shooter After New Images Released; Today, Reiner Double-Homicide Case to be Turned Over to Prosecutors. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired December 16, 2025 - 07:00   ET

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

[07:00:00]

KATE BOLDUAN, CNN ANCHOR: Still on the run, but new clues and new video, the FBI with a fresh lead in the Brown University shooting, asking for the public's help now identifying the person in these images that you're now seeing and working to map the suspect's moves before and after the attack.

Plus, new details about what happened in the hours leading to the murders of legendary Hollywood director Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. Police now say that their son is responsible and charges could come as soon as this morning.

And some wild video out of Washington State, an unmanned boat, as you see there, also no lights on seen drifting through a terminal, which officials say is not just unusual but extremely dangerous.

I'm Kate Bolduan. John Berman is on the ground in Providence, Rhode Island. Sara is out today. This is CNN News Central.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: All right, good morning from the campus of Brown University in Providence, Rhode Island. Officials are hoping there are new leads in the urgent manhunt for a killer who is very much still on the loose. He killed two people in this building right behind me and has been on the run since Saturday afternoon.

Police now have released new images of this person, the individual they believe to be connected to this shooting. You can see them right here. These are three pieces of new video. They're asking for the public's help here in this new video, which is clearer than the images we had seen. Officials are pointing to the fact that this individual, they believe, is about 5'8" tall. They identify him -- the FBI is calling him stocky. You can see the jacket there, two-tone jacket, maybe a little bit of green, and clearly the man is masked. There also appears to be an identifiable gait in the way that he walks.

Officials say he should be considered armed and dangerous. They don't know whether he is still in the area. It's been nearly 72 hours now since the shooting. The FBI is offering a $50,000 reward in the case. And they are asking for both help and patience.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) TED DOCKS, SPECIAL AGENT IN CHARGE, BOSTON FBI FIELD OFFICE: It's painstaking work and we are asking the public to be patient as we continue to run down every lead so we can get victims, survivors, and their families, and all of you the answers you deserve.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. This comes after police cleared and released another man who had been described as a person interest in the case. That was a move that led to concern and confusion on campus and all around the city.

With me now is CNN's Leigh Waldman who arrived on scene here Saturday night after the shooting, and has been all over the campus and city since. Bring us up to speed on these new developments of the investigation.

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, the images, the videos and pictures that were released at the news conference yesterday, these are significant because you have to remember the two videos released prior to that, they were blurry. We didn't see any kind of image of this person's face. But you can see it on the videos on your screen right now, you can see part of this man's face. It's covered by a mask here, but it was a distinctive video released because the A.G. says this could be the key here in pulling those threads to try and blow this case wide open. We asked him about it last night at this news conference and he said the next 24 to 36 hours are very key in this investigation. They could blow this whole case wide open.

You mentioned that distinctive gait that he has. Well, we're looking at this. We have no idea who this person is. But someone who does know this man, the images of his face that we can see the walk, they should be able to identify this person. We know they're getting these tips from the community. We saw them out here in this neighborhood surrounding Brown University, canine units, the FBI, U.S. Marshals, state and local police, they're knocking on doors, hoping to get some more video so we can really piece all this together.

BERMAN: And you were at that news conference again yesterday where this new video was released.

There seemed to be some frustration. Certainly, the press asking, I think, important questions to law enforcement about what's taken so long, why this is coming out in stages.

[07:05:00]

And the police and law enforcement in general may be frustrated and a little tired too.

WALDMAN: Absolutely. And the law enforcement, we're asking these questions, things that we're hearing from the community, asking why we're not seeing more, is there any more video? And they're telling us this is just a part of the investigation. Give us some time here. Community members also telling us that they're frustrated. They want this manhunt to come to an end. John? BERMAN: All right. Leigh Waldman, again, you've been here over days now. Great work all over this area, thanks so much for being with us this morning.

As we said, they are facing a lot of questions, police and FBI, about how they are handling this after this initial person of interest was cleared and released. Law enforcement had to get back to work.

You're seeing what they've been doing here in this neighborhood, going through neighborhoods, going into yards, walking down the streets, knocking on doors. This was yesterday, right, two full days after the shooting, which tells you where they are. Listen.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

REPORTER: We have noticed since Saturday that the potential suspect walked down Waterman Street in the first video. Why would you be now looking in the bushes or something on Waterman Street two days later after it had snowed?

CHIEF OSCAR PEREZ, PROVIDENCE POLICEI DEPARTMENT: So, I just answered John the same question of how investigations they turn and lead you in a different direction. We might have used all our energies in the first few days to investigate something, and here we are now heading back to that same place to continue to investigate. And that's why you saw that because the investigation has changed on a daily basis.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

BERMAN: All right. With us now, CNN Senior National Security Analyst Juliette Kayyem, former assistant secretary for the Department of Homeland Security. And one new bit of information, Juliette, which really tees up the question about where we are, late yesterday, law enforcement put out a note for anyone who was in that building. Barus and Holley, which is the engineering building where the shooting took place saying, hey, we want to talk to you if we were in that building, which seems like a reasonable request, except that it was two full days after the shooting itself. So, what does all of this tell you about what's been going on?

JULIETTE KAYYEM, CNN SENIOR NATIONAL SECURITY ANALYST: I mean, that the person of interest and I think the FBI sort of saying we've got our guy and disclosures by Director Patel delayed this 18 hours. I mean, I will tell you, I saw pictures of them looking through the snow and everything. It snowed. You and I were standing here in the snow on Sunday. Most evidence is now gone, right? Like so if he dropped something, if there were fingerprints or whatever, most of it would be gone. So, they're -- I mean, and they admit it, they're delayed about 18 to 24 hours. Also, students are gone. You know, memories lapse, people are traumatized, people are all around the country, around the world now, who may have been in that building. So, it's just going to be harder for them.

But, look, they are committed to doing a yes, a restart. But this is unfortunate, and the public does not want to see law enforcement agencies sort of throwing each other under the bus. BERMAN: And that said, what we did get was the new video released yesterday, three separate pieces of video at this news conference, along with some photos and a $50,000 reward. At first glance, you're like, oh, I can't see his face here. But there are some recognizable things perhaps for someone who knows this person.

KAYYEM: Yes. And let's combine that with the $50,000 reward, which seems it's money, but it's not like a huge reward. This money and those videos are someone is recognizing him. He has friends, he has colleagues, he has a girlfriend, boyfriend, whatever, someone will recognize this and the $50,000 is essentially, we're going to make this -- you know, we need you to come forward. A stranger is not going to recognize him from that. So, unlike say the UnitedHealthcare manhunt.

This is really not a manhunt in that sense. This is a -- we need someone near him to come forward.

BERMAN: That was what happened in Utah with Charlie Kirk. There was people who knew that person even though they were unrecognizable to most people in the video.

I want to ask you a question. Actually, Anderson asked me last night, and it's one that more and more people are asking, you know, Providence is a city of some 200,000 people, presumably a lot of cameras around.

KAYYEM: Yes.

BERMAN: Brown University has a lot of cameras around. How could it be that there aren't more pictures?

KAYYEM: I can't answer this. I'm your analyst. I cannot answer this. There's a couple things. You know, did he know where cameras were on the campus? You just have to ask yourself that, so he's sort of diverting himself and his position. But they are looking at all cameras now. The city is back open. They're going to -- you know, people who weren't around Saturday and Sunday were back at work yesterday. Maybe they'll find something.

The other thing is there's no pictures of him in the room. We generally do get sort of real time pictures. I think that shows the suddenness of this. He comes from behind and then everyone is hiding. But it is true. And it may change. Someone has something that they don't know.

BERMAN: Well, I think it'll change going forward in this city and this college, for sure. One of the things they say about that building, they're just on a lot of cameras in that building because it sold in this neighborhood, which is on campus, but the edge of campus, there are residences all around here. So, it's sort of a patchwork, but still you might expect to see more.

Great to see you, Juliette. Thank you so much you for being here.

[07:10:01] You know, Kate, it will be 72 hours at 4:00 today. Obviously, every hour that passes at this point is just simply more and more urgent.

BOLDUAN: Absolutely. John on the ground for us, J.B., we will get right back to you.

Prosecutors are expected to bring charges as soon as today against Rob Reiner's son, Nick, now accused of killing his parents. There are new details about what happened between those men hours before their death.

And breaking overnight, the U.S. military carries out three new strikes on alleged drug trafficking boats in the Pacific. Eight people were killed, according to the U.S. military, and now President Trump designates fentanyl a weapon of mass destruction. Why?

And a new push to get more experts in artificial intelligence to get involved in the U.S. government, plans for what they want to call the U.S. Tech Force.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BOLDUAN: Today, police in Los Angeles are expected to turn over to prosecutors the double homicide case of Rob and Michele Reiner.

[07:15:02]

Police say the couple's 32-year-old son, Nick, is, in their words, responsible for their deaths. And there's new details about the hours before they were found dead. A source tells CNN the younger Reiner was seen arguing with his father.

CNN's Stephanie Elam is in Los Angeles. She's got much more on all the new details. Stephanie, what are you learning?

STEPHANIE ELAM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate. Yes, we've learned that he was seen arguing with his father at a holiday party hosted by Conan O'Brien on Saturday night, and also his mother, Michele Reiner, was at that party as well.

Now, we don't know what may have transpired between there. We don't know if whether or not Nick left with his parents that night. But we're also getting to know more about Nick as an individual. Obviously, he's been eclipsed over the years by his super famous parents. And now we're starting to learn more about his addiction journey, something he's spoken about plenty over the years.

And in 2018, he was on a podcast called The Dopey Podcast, where they talk about people's struggles and journeys from being an addict to getting clean. And take a listen to what he said, transpired at least one time.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. I got totally spun out on uppers. I think it was coke and something else, and I was up for days on end. And I started punching out different things in my guest house.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Weren't you pissed? Like weren't your folks like you got to go and you were pissed that they were like, you got to go?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes. They told me I had to go.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And that's why you got upset? So, that seems --

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't remember the specifics of it.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You do or you don't?

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I don't.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ELAM: He said that he battled addiction for more than ten years, was homeless at some point, because I think his parents, according to the way he worded it, made him leave at a certain point there. And also just dealing with it, starting at 15 years old is the first time he said he entered rehab.

Now, as we look at all of these things and his battles, we don't know if any of that has to play into why police believe that he's responsible, the word that they use, for the deaths of his parents. But we are hoping to learn more today as we have checked in with the Los Angeles County District Attorney's office, and they say they do expect to hear from the Los Angeles Police Department today so that they can examine which charges Nick Reiner could face. Kate.

BOLDUAN: There could be some big movement and developments on this today.

Stephanie, thank you so much. I really appreciate it.

New details we have coming in about the suspects in the anti-Semitic terror attack in Australia. Police say the two men were motivated by ISIS and that there is new video of an incident that happened just before those attacks began.

And Ford with a very big announcement that will cost them almost $20 billion.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BOLDUAN: It was a cold night for the Dolphins as they played the Steelers on their home turf.

CNN's Andy Scholes taking a look at that. How did they fare?

ANDY SCHOLES, CNN SPORTS ANCHOR: Well, Kate, you know, the last time the Steelers lost at home on Monday Night Football, I was eight years old. They've now won 23 straight games on Monday Night Football. The streak, it dates all the way back to 1991. And this one, it was just 7-3 in halftime, but that's when Aaron Rodgers in Pittsburgh offense got going, Rodgers throwing two touchdowns in the third quarter, the second one going to D.K. Metcalf, who caught this one that broke all kinds of tackles on his way in for the score. Now, 42-year-old Rodgers, sharp, completed 23 of his 27 passes.

The Dolphins, meanwhile, they just hate the cold. They've now lost 14 straight games when the temperature is below 40 degrees. And last night, it was in the teens in Pittsburgh, just how the Steelers like it in December. Pittsburgh won that one 28-15. They're now 8-6 on this season.

All right, we had two versus three in the western conference last night. The Nuggets hosted the Rockets. Houston was down three under a minute ago, Kevin Durant coming through with a clutch three to tie the game. Moments later, Nuggets were up one and Alperen Sengun in the lane, gets it to go, put Houston up one with two seconds. Then some controversy, Amen Thompson gets called for a foul before the ball is inbounded.

Rockets Coach Ime Udoka, he was furious. He challenged it, but the call got upheld. Murray would make the free throw to tie the game. We'd end up going to overtime. Spencer Jones makes a big three for the nuggets in O.T. Sengun had one last chance to tie it, but it was no good. Denver holds on to win 128-1 25.

Cooper Flagg, meanwhile, make NBA history last night. The Mavs rookie scored a career-high 42 points, which is the most ever by an 18-year- old. Flagg is going to turn 19 on Sunday, breaking LeBron's mark of 37, which he had set back in 2003. The Mavs, though, they lost his game to the Jazz in O.T., 140-133.

All right, finally, we had a thriller in the men's college soccer national championship game. Washington was up 2-0 on N.C. State, but the Wolfpacks scored two unanswered with the equalizer coming with just three minutes left on the clock. The match would end up going to overtime. And in college, they play the golden goal. So, any goal ends the game, and Harrison Bertos would score there two minutes into O.T., takes his shirt off, he starts running, his team chases him to celebrate. Washington wins 3-2 to claim their first ever men's soccer national title. So, congrats to them, Kate.

And I tell you what, I love the golden goal. I wish all of soccer did it. Maybe that's the American in me. I like that the game just ends on a goal like that. I mean, we could apply that in so many circumstances. I also just like the terminology, the golden goal just sounds fantastic. And I loved he that he like ripped off one shirt and he probably had like seven more underneath to try to survive.

SCHOLES: It looked cold there too.

BOLDUAN: It did. It really did.

All right, Andy, thank you so much.

SCHOLES: All right.

BOLDUAN: Let's get back to the breaking news right now, there are new pictures just in just released by the FBI showing a possible suspect in the Brown University shooting. Take a look at these pictures as investigators, they say they need the public's help to crack the case.

And a dramatic and costly reversal by one of the big three, Ford now saying it will take a nearly $20 billion hit as it's pulling the plug on some of its electric vehicle plans. Why? The answer ahead.

[07:25:00]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BERMAN: All Right. John Berman here back in Providence, Rhode Island, right on the campus of Brown University. There is a gunman still at large, the person who killed two people right here in the engineering building behind me. The search has been on since Saturday night.

Late yesterday, police released new video and photos of the person they are looking for right now. You can see that person on the street, just one of these streets on these blocks where I'm standing.

[07:30:03]

Part of it's Ring video from a home, other video coming from other sources there.