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Civil Rights Leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Dead at Age 84; Sheriff Says, Nancy Guthrie's Children and Their Spouses Cleared as Suspects. Aired 7-7:30a ET

Aired February 17, 2026 - 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: The breaking news, Civil Rights Leader Reverend Jesse Jackson has died. His family -- what his family is revealing now about his final day.

JOHN BERMAN, CNN ANCHOR: This morning, investigators officially clearing Nancy Guthrie's family and her disappearance. What this means for the investigation and why authorities are now hoping Walmart could help them with this case.

And not sure this package will arrive in two days or less. An Amazon driver follows the GPS straight into the water arriving at destination.

Sara is out. I'm John Berman with Kate Bolduan, and this is CNN News Central.

BOLDUAN: And let's start with that breaking news. A pioneering civil rights leader has passed away. The Reverend Jesse Jackson, a protege of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and a man who became one of the leading voices in the fight for racial equality in America and launched two campaigns for president. Reverend Jesse Jackson has passed away. He was 84 years old.

CNN's Abby Philip has much more on Jackson's life and legacy.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

ABBY PHILLIP, CNN ANCHOR AND SENIOR POLITICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice over): Jesse Jackson's life was defined by a relentless fight for justice and equality.

REV. JESSE JACKSON, CIVIL RIGHTS LEADER: I was born in Greenville, South Carolina, in rampant, radical, racial segregation. I had to be taught to go to the back of the bus or be arrested.

PHILLIP: Those early experiences drove Jackson to join the Civil Rights Movement.

JACKSON: The fact is against the odds, we knew they were great odds. We were winning.

PHILLIP: In 1965, he began working for Reverend Martin Luther King Jr.

JACKSON: I learned someone from him, such a great source of inspiration.

PHILLIP: King named Jackson to lead Operation Breadbasket in Chicago, an economic justice campaign for black people. However, some say King was frustrated by Jackson's brashness and ambition.

JACKSON: I'm sure he thought I needed more time. I was 24 years old.

PHILLIP: Both men were in Memphis in April 1968 to support striking sanitation workers. King and other civil rights leaders were staying at the Lorraine Motel.

JACKSON: He said, Jesse, you know, you don't even have on a shirt and tie. You don't even have on a tie. We're going to dinner. I said, Doct, it does not require a tie, just an appetite. We laughed. I said, Doc, and the bullet hit.

Everything changed at that moment. It was a defining moment in the history of our struggle.

PHILLIP: With King gone, his movement was adrift. Years later, Jackson formed Operation Push, pressuring businesses to open up to black workers and customers, and adding more focus on black responsibility. Championed in the 1972 concert Wattstax.

JACKSON: In what we have shifted from burn, baby, burn to learn, baby, learn.

PHILLIP: And he expanded his own global reach too, helping to free U.S. Lieutenant Robert Goodman, who was held by Syria after being shot down and later other Americans held in Cuba and Serbia.

JACKSON: I learned how to negotiate as an African American growing up among white people. We have to negotiate every day.

PHILLIP: The reverend set his sights on the White House in 1984.

JACKSON: Milking cows in Iowa, they're coming back to the inner cities. And so I learned a lot during that period.

PHILLIP: First thought of as a marginal candidate, Jackson finished third in the primary race with 18 percent of the vote.

That campaign almost went off the rails when Jackson used an ethnic slur to refer to New York Jews.

JACKSON: Just mistakes and they hurt.

PHILLIP: He ran again in 1988, this time doubling his vote count and finishing in second in the Democratic race.

JACKSON: Keep hope alive for tomorrow night.

PHILLIP: At the time, it was the farthest any black candidate had gone in a presidential contest.

[07:05:00]

JACKSON: But 20 years later, when President Barack ran, we were laying the groundwork for that season.

PHILLIP: In 2017, Jackson had a new battle to fight, Parkinson's disease. But that didn't stop him.

JACKSON: If you hold on, if your cause is right and your grip is tight, you'll make it.

PHILLIP: Late in life, he was still fighting. He was arrested in Washington while demonstrating for voting rights. His silent presence at the trial of Ahmaud Arbery's killers prompted defense lawyers to ask that he leave the courtroom. Jackson stayed.

JACKSON: I am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am.

JACKSON: Somebody.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Somebody.

JACKSON: I am.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I am.

JACKSON: Somebody.

PHILLIP: From the Jim Crow South through the turbulence 60s and into the Black Lives Matter movement, Jesse Jackson was a constant, unyielding voice for justice.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

BERMAN: A towering figure over generations.

Let's hear more about this now. With us is Arlette Saenz. Arlette, what's some of the reaction coming in?

ARLETTE SAENZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, John, tributes have really been pouring in this morning after the passing of this civil rights giant and leader within the Democratic Party, Reverend Jesse Jackson. We heard from his family this morning who said in a statement after his passing, quote, he died peacefully on Tuesday morning, surrounded by his family. His unwavering commitment to justice equality and human rights helped shape a global movement for freedom and dignity. A tireless change agent, he elevated the voices of the voiceless, from his presidential campaigns in the 1980s to mobilizing millions to register to vote, leaving an indelible mark on history.

Now, as you heard there in Abby's piece, the Reverend Jesse Jackson really had picked up the mantle after the passing of Martin Luther King Jr. He had served as a protege to him, working very closely as they pushed across the Civil Rights Movement. And the daughter of Martin Luther King Jr. posted on social media this morning just a photo of her father and the late Jesse Jackson, saying, quote, both now ancestors.

Someone else that we have been hearing from this morning is Reverend Al Sharpton, who has called Jesse Jackson a mentor to him. He wrote on social media, quote, the Reverend Dr. Jesse Lewis Jackson was not simply a civil rights leader. He was a movement unto himself. He carried history in his footsteps and hope in his voice. One of the greatest honors of my life was learning at his side. He reminded me that faith without action is just noise. He taught me that protest must have purpose, that faith must have feet, and that justice is not seasonal. It is daily work.

Al Sharpton said that he had spoken and prayed with the family early this morning after learning of Jackson's passing, but so many have spoken about the impact that he had, not just on the civil rights movement, but also the state of the Democratic Party, really with his presidential runs, pushing these progressive ideals, but also trying to expand the tent of who would be included in politics.

And so we expect to hear much more, especially from Democratic politicians as the day progresses, as they're honoring the life and service of this man.

BERMAN: Oh, Jesse Jackson went to White Appalachia to campaign in both '84 and '88 in ways that were at that point revolutionary for a politician like him. Such a unique impact over the 60s, 70s, 80s, 90s, into the 2000s.

Arlette Saenz, thank you very much for helping us remember, as I said, this towering figure.

This morning, what we are learning about the DNA analysis of the glove found near Nancy Guthrie's home.

And the new details this morning after a shooting at a high school hockey game leaves two people dead.

And what caused a home to explode in a quiet neighborhood? We've got new details this morning.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:10:00]

BOLDUAN: So, we are standing by this morning because anytime now we could get word of DNA testing results on a glove coming back found -- this glove found in Nancy -- near Nancy Guthrie's home. The FBI says, the glove, which was discovered about two miles from Guthrie's house, appears to match the one worn by the subject suspect seen in the doorbell video the night that she disappeared.

While they wait for that piece of the puzzle, I guess we'll say, for the first time, the sheriff is actually officially clearing several people, the entire Guthrie family, from being involved in her disappearance, writing in a pretty pointed statement. This in part, to be clear, the Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared as possible suspects in the case. The family has done nothing -- has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and our victims in this case. To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.

CNN's Leigh Waldman is on the scene in Tucson again for us this morning. Good morning, Leigh.

LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Good morning, Kate. Yes, that statement very pointed and very clear from the sheriff. He also went on to say to our CNN affiliate in the area, KOLD, that the family has been 100 percent cooperative and family members were ruled out as suspects in the first few days. Again, that's what he told local CNN affiliate, KOLD.

But in that initial statement, let's pull it up again, he's saying the family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.

[07:15:01]

To suggest otherwise is not only wrong, it is cruel.

This comes as we are awaiting DNA results. We know that a glove has been recovered not far from where we are in front of Nancy Guthrie's home. It's been sent off for preliminary testing at a private lab in Florida. And according to an FBI statement they received, preliminary results on Saturday, they're waiting quality control on Sunday. And once they get all of that back, they're going to start running it through a system called CODIS. That's their criminal database. It has DNA samples from millions of previous offenders. They're hoping to get a match there.

What they're also hoping for here is to have a match from that glove with DNA that they also recovered from the site of Nancy Guthrie's property. The sheriff being very careful with this investigation, not telling us exactly where in the house that -- or where on the property that DNA was recovered, but just that they had that DNA, really hoping for matches here so we can have some kind of movement to find who the person is behind all of this.

Let's talk about that backpack. At this point, we have it confirmed the type of backpack that the person was holding on that doorbell camera video that was released. Days into this investigation. We know it is an Ozark Trail Hiker backpack, a brand sold by Walmart. We're still waiting on the other items of clothing that person was seen wearing.

We're not sure exactly where those items of clothing were sold at this point. We know that Walmart is working with these investigators, trying to be as cooperative as they possibly can, Walmart not giving any kind of additional statement to CNN at this point.

But that's what we have definitively. There's so many questions in this investigation, Kate. We still need to send it around, Nancy Guthrie, the 84-year-old, who still has not been seen.

BOLDUAN: Leigh Waldman in Tucson for us, thank you so much, Leigh, I really appreciate it.

Ahead from your pantry to your closet, it's so easy for me to say it's 7:00 in the morning, I know, get ready to pay more, guys. The company's announcing new prices -- new price hikes, and pointing right to President Trump's tariffs about it all.

And they're called the Blade Angels. Today, the women of team USA competing for gold in the women's short program.

We'll be right back

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:20:00]

BERMAN: This morning, two people are dead, three others remain critically injured after a shooting at a hockey rink in Rhode Island. The suspected shooter is also dead as a result of a self-inflicted gunshot. Authorities say the shooter was apparently targeting his family. Rhode Island Senator Jack Reed says a person in the stands tried to disarm the shooter, which likely helped prevent more killing.

CNN's Jason Carroll following the stories here with us this morning. Jason, what are you learning?

JASON CARROLL, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Yes. Well, John, you can imagine just how terrifying this was, not only for the players, but for the spectators, for anyone who was there at the arena yesterday, when the shots rang out just at about 2:30.

It was at the Dennis M. Lynch arena. Several high schools were participating in the hockey match. Once the shooting started, I mean, it was a frantic scene. I mean, people in the stands were running for cover. Players were trying to do their best to get off the ice to take cover. Some actually taking cover in a locker room. Some were able to get out of the arena across the street at a convenience store. Cameras caught up with one of those players. He talked about what he saw and how he got out.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So, it was like (INAUDIBLE) then I thought it was balloons, but it just kept going and it was actually gunshots. And after the gunshots, me and my teammates ran right to the locker room. And we just bunkered up and we pressed against -- my bad, I'm sorry, we pressed against the door and just tried to stay safe down in there. But, no, it was very scary.

(END VIDEO CLIP)

CARROLL: Incredible what they had to go through.

So, what happened here? Pawtucket Police say, in all likelihood, this was some sort of a family dispute, that the suspect got there, targeted some of his family members. We can tell you that all of the students who were at the game involved in that hockey match are safe.

The suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Two others were killed. Those two were up there in the stands, three people now in critical condition.

Just awful what these high school students had to go through, the players who were out there on the ice. But, again, all the players who were involved, the high school players involved in that hockey match are safe.

BERMAN: Yes, just awful seeing some of that video there. You could actually see some of the players in full uniform walking on the street, which is not a usual site for any hockey players like that. It just had to be terrifying.

All right, Jason, thank you so much. Wait to hear more from you as more details become available.

CARROLL: You bet.

BERMAN: Happening now, critical talks underway between the U.S. and Iran, just as there is a new warning from Iran's supreme leader.

And blue jeans and spices and maybe even spicy blue jeans all getting more expensive. We will tell you how much and why.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[07:25:00]

BERMAN: This morning, we are standing by for the DNA test results from this glove. Well, I point to here, but authorities say it's a glove that resembles this one seen in the doorbell footage from Nancy Guthrie's home. And they're testing the glove they found to see if the DNA matches DNA they found inside the house, or if DNA from the glove matches maybe anyone in any of the crime database.

Also the sheriff for the first time is saying that Guthrie's family, including her children and their spouses, have been cleared as suspects. We're also learning that investigators are using a helicopter equipped with a so-called signal sniffer to try to detect Nancy's pacemaker. The inventor of the device explained to CNN how it works.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

DAVID KENNEDY, INVENTOR OF PACEMAKER SIGNAL DETECTOR: So, they're sweeping the areas looking for this transmission, and I was able to confirm that, you know, based on the pacemaker that she has, you know, it will broadcast every about three to four minutes or so with a very small transmission that if authorities are able to capture that, can triangulate exactly where Nancy is directly off of her pacemaker.

(END VIDEO CLIP) BERMAN: All right. With us now, former FBI Profiler Gregg McCrary and CNN Law Enforcement Analyst Jonathan Wackrow. Greg, thank you so much for being with us.

One of the newest things we've seen is this statement from the sheriff in Pima County clearing the Guthrie family as suspects. To be clear, the Guthrie family, to include all siblings and spouses, has been cleared. The family has been nothing but cooperative and gracious and are victims in this case.

Now, Gregg, we haven't heard a lot from sheriffs. We certainly don't hear a lot on a day-to-day basis. Why do you think they put this out so declaratively?

GREGG MCCRARY, FORMER FBI PROFILER: I think because of all of the speculation, social media and these influencers and all that going on, creating all these false scenarios and the family's been traumatized enough already. But to have that sort of piling on by all the people speculating about this being an intra-familial case of kidnapping or something is just -- you know, just totally unwarranted and not helpful at all. So, he came forward, made a very clear, forceful statement.

BERMAN: And, Jonathan, I've had a lot of chance to talk to you over the last 12 hours or so about this. We are still waiting for any information about the testing being done on the glove. What we know, again, is that authorities say the glove they're testing resembles this one seen in the video. They're putting it through the CODIS system, which is a system to see if there's any matches on that with anything in criminal history or criminal databases around the country.

[07:30:09]