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Early Start with Rahel Solomon
Reiner's Family Announces Deaths of Rob and Michele Reiner; Police Release Man Detained in Brown University Shooting; Hong Kong Media Tycoon Jimmy Lai Found Guilty of National Security Offenses. Aired 5-5:30a ET
Aired December 15, 2025 - 05:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
[05:00:00]
BRIAN ABEL, ANCHOR, EARLY START: Homicide, but are not seeking any suspects at this stage of the investigation.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Chief, why are you not exactly looking for a suspect, are you confident you know who did this?
ALAN HAMILTON, DEPUTY CHEF, LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT: We have not identified a suspect at this time.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Well, then, shouldn't you be looking for one so these neighbors aren't worried about their own lives and their own safety?
HAMILTON: Yes, so at this time, after we determined -- so, I need everyone to understand something. In order to comply with the legal process, before we do anything here, we have to get a search warrant. Because there are issues regarding standing at this residence. So, as long as those legal requirements are met, we can continue the investigation.
Now, when I tell you that we have not identified a suspect, it doesn't mean that we're not working the case. We will not identify a suspect until that person is identified as a suspect, and we're legally seeking them if there is a crime to be reported, and if that person is a suspect in that crime.
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ABEL: Across the country in Rhode Island, authorities say the person of interest detained in Saturday's deadly shooting at Brown University has been released from custody. They are now seeking more video evidence as they search for the shooter. Rhode Island's governor says there are still, quote, "a lot of steps to take in the investigation".
In a news conference late Sunday, Rhode Island's Attorney General explained why investigators chose to release the only person of interest so far.
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PETER NERONHA, ATTORNEY GENERAL, RHODE ISLAND, UNITED STATES: This is what these investigations look like. I've been around long enough to know that sometimes you head in one direction, and then you have to regroup and go in another, and that's exactly what has happened over the last 24 hours or so.
Collectively, the team developed leads in a number of areas. One was chased to ground. It led to the -- to the -- to us detaining a person of interest. And so those words and how we choose those words when we're talking about an investigation matter. And what it means here is that, certainly there was some degree of evidence that pointed to this individual, but that evidence needed to be corroborated and confirmed.
And over the last 24 hours, leading into a -- just very recently, that evidence now points in a different direction. So, what that means is that this person of interest needs to be and should be released.
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ABEL: Law enforcement officials say they are still looking for the person you see here in this video, dressed all in black with his back toward the camera. Authorities say there are no suspects at this time. CNN's Leigh Waldman has more on the investigation from Providence.
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LEIGH WALDMAN, CNN REPORTER (on camera): Here in the Providence community, it feels like we've almost taken one step forward. But now, two steps back after the person of interest who was detained by authorities has now been released. The mayor of this community, Mayor Brett Smiley, telling people this community is still safe.
But when we pressed him, asking, is there any indication that the person who committed this violent act at Brown University is still here, or if they've gone? He says that they frankly have no way of knowing. So, he sympathizes with people who might be going to bed with a little more anxiety.
They renewed this call asking for people to send in their videos, photos from their homes, businesses, anywhere in the area around Brown University that might show the face of the person that they released. That ten-second clip of video leaving down Hope Street, turning onto Waterman Street.
The Attorney General saying, frankly, we don't have a picture of this guy's face yet. If we did, we would share it. Now, he spoke a little bit about the change in direction here, saying they were following leads. They were following evidence at the time. It pointed to the person of interest that they had detained.
Unfortunately, that evidence -- those interviews led nowhere. So, they're having to change course. But he reassured people, saying though, we have not solved this thing yet, they will get it solved. The police chief also weighing in, saying they didn't have enough evidence to charge the person that they had detained. All of this kind of leading to a feeling of anxiety here in the
community of Providence. We know when people wake up, when the sun rises, the mayor says, you will see more law enforcement working on the street, combing the area around Brown University, trying to get a conclusion to the tragedy that happened there on Saturday evening. Leigh Waldman, CNN, Providence, Rhode Island.
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ABEL: And joining me now is Donell Harvin; a Homeland Security analyst and faculty member of Georgetown University's Emergency and Disaster Management Masters Program. Danielle, thank you for being with us. Help us if you can make sense of all that's happened here in the last 24 hours or so, with this person of interest now being released, because we know that the first handful of hours of investigation are critical to eventually finding a suspect.
[05:05:00]
So, what do you make of this investigation at this stage going in a new direction?
DONELL HARVIN, HOMELAND SECURITY ANALYST & FACULTY MEMBER, GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY'S EMERGENCY & DISASTER MANAGEMENT PROGRAM: Yes, well, I wouldn't say the case is cold, but it's really changed directions a lot. So, we can only hope that law enforcement, while they were investigating this person of interest that they had in custody, rather -- that they had detained rather, that they were also running down other leads.
And so, this is a typical case, I mean, we saw this in the early, you know, first few hours of the Charlie Kirk shooting where they thought they had someone they kind of ran their evidence down to the ground and information, and they didn't have that individual, and that person was released.
And then they went back to the public with more information. And eventually, you know, that person was found because they released more information. So, what they're looking for right now is, you know, probably ring camera systems or home surveillance systems that would have caught this person's face.
Or, you know, where this person had turned on a particular street or maybe got into a car and drove away. And if they can get the public engaged, they get more eyes on this individual, more camera feeds, then this will be helpful for this case. I'm confident they're going to catch this individual. They just need more time.
ABEL: OK, I do want to talk about the security aspect of this, now, given your background, I know having covered too many school shootings myself, at the entrances, the doors, whether they are locked, how they are accessed can be a focus point for universities after a shooting like this. What do you look for as best practices and what can be learned from this?
HARVIN: Well, Brian, the best practices were established years ago. In fact, I mean, we're having this conversation the day after the 13th Anniversary of the Sandy Hook shooting, when there was a discussion about locked doors and that individual was able to shoot through those doors.
Listen, if you're in a campus right now, you have to be really concerned about what your security posture is. I mean, I've worked on many campuses. Some are a little bit more closed than others. Clearly, we want our universities and our schools to be open and inviting, particularly when it comes to coming on the campus for finals or you know, visiting other buildings.
But you don't want to have incidents like this, so there'll be plenty of time for them to review their security posture, I'm sure they're doing that right now, but this is certainly a concern for not just those individuals on Brown University, but every university campus across the country of how open they are.
ABEL: And we have seen and heard so many harrowing stories from students that were on campus. What else at this moment stands out to you about this shooting?
HARVIN: Well, I mean, you said it when you know, last question when you asked me, we've seen too many of these shootings, quite frankly, this is nearly the 400th mass shooting this year. Mass shooting as defined by four or more individuals that were shot. We've had over 100 school-related shootings. Those are shootings that have happened on school grounds according to the K to 12 gun violence database.
And so, what's really concerning is that, you have children who have grown up in the -- you know, post-Columbine, post-Marjory Stoneman Douglas, post-Sandy Hook era, that are adults now, and they're going to school and colleges or graduate school, and they're having to still deal with this.
What's really concerning is that we still haven't found a way to not only secure our educational environments for the students, but also to really take a hard look at gun laws that would protect individuals when they're just trying to get an education.
ABEL: All right, Donell Harvin, appreciate your expertise, thank you for joining us.
HARVIN: Thank you.
ABEL: All right, now back to Los Angeles where police say they are conducting an apparent homicide investigation into the deaths of Rob Reiner and his wife, Michele. An LAPD spokesperson said they are not currently searching for anyone as a suspect, but they are seeking a search warrant to carry out a full crime scene investigation. Earlier, we spoke to CNN's chief law enforcement and security analyst John Miller.
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JOHN MILLER, CNN CHIEF LAW ENFORCEMENT & SECURITY ANALYST: This is one of the most upscale neighborhoods on the level with Beverly Hills in West L.A. These are -- this street is one block away from Rockingham, the street we know from all of the testimony of the O.J. Simpson case. These are wealthy people. Many of them are famous people.
This is considered literally one of the safest neighborhoods in the entire city of Los Angeles, with police patrols, private patrols, cameras, alarms. So, people there are going to be listening very closely to determine, is there a threat to that neighborhood? I think Chief Hamilton went to some degree to say, to indicate that they don't see that at this stage.
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ABEL: And CNN'S chief media analyst Brian Stelter has more on legendary actor and director Rob Reiner's Hollywood legacy.
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BRIAN STELTER, CNN CHIEF MEDIA ANALYST (on camera): Hollywood coming to grips with the sudden loss of a legend. Rob Reiner; one of the giants in L.A. known for acting and for writing, for directing and producing, as well as for his political activism. Ultimately, it was his directing that he is most remembered for.
Films like "When Harry Met Sally, films like "A Few Good Men, "The Princess Bride". You know, his directorial debut was "This is Spinal Tap", a groundbreaking big rock, big music, big hair mockumentary, it was the kind of film that came out in theaters, didn't do all that well, but then it became a sleeper hit on home video.
People endlessly rewinding and re-watching, "This is Spinal Tap" over and over and over again. And he actually recently came out with a sequel just a few months ago, a sequel to "This is Spinal Tap", because he wanted to get that band back together again. Rob Reiner, known for acting over the years as well.
You know, look, it was him playing Meathead in "All in the Family" that catapulted him to superstardom. It allowed him to write his own ticket and get into the directing business. He continued to play characters over the decades, supporting roles in films like "Sleepless in Seattle" and the "Wolf of Wall Street", and on the "Fox" sitcom -- the "Fox" sitcom "New Girl".
But I know he also enjoyed working behind the scenes, nurturing young filmmakers and working on political campaigns. For example, he played an instrumental role in repealing bans of same-sex marriage first in California and then across the United States. He was outspoken in the last decade for his opposition to President Trump.
He was a very vocal critic of Trump. I remember interviewing Reiner in 2018 both about film and TV, but also about his political work. Back then, he really enjoyed sparring with his challengers and critics on Twitter; the site now known as X. Reiner really played almost every part in Hollywood through a career that spanned generations, and his wife Michele, made him better.
They worked together in a partnership that spanned nearly 40 years. They met when Reiner was working on "When Harry Met Sally", and he often credited Michele with giving him a happier ending for the film. I'm sure many fans now wanting to re-watch to stream that film now, and many of the other films in Reiner's long category catalog of memorable hits.
A true loss for Hollywood and beyond, but now, so many people are trying to make sense of. Back to you.
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ABEL: Brian Stelter, thank you. Among the many reactions to the deaths of Reiner and his wife were tributes not just from entertainment personalities, but also political figures. The mayor of Los Angeles writing, "this is a devastating loss for our city and our country. Rob Reiner's contributions reverberate throughout American culture and society."
California Governor Gavin Newsom said "his boundless empathy made his stories timeless, teaching generations how to see goodness and righteousness in others, and encouraging us to dream bigger." And former President Barack Obama posted, "together, he and his wife lived lives defined by purpose. They will be remembered for the values they championed and the countless people they inspired.
We send our deepest condolences to all who love them." The verdict is in. In a landmark trial that's being seen as a test of Hong Kong's freedoms under Beijing, media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offenses. We will go live to Hong Kong for a reaction.
Plus, the latest on Sunday's deadly shooting at Bondi Beach in Australia, which is already leading to promises of tougher gun laws in the country. And later, what the L.A. police are saying about their investigation after Rob and Michele Reiner were found dead in their home.
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ABEL: Leaders in Australia have agreed to toughen the country's already strict gun laws just a day after the deadly shooting at Sydney's Bondi Beach. At least, 15 people were killed and dozens injured in what authorities are calling a terror attack targeting Jewish people celebrating the start of Hanukkah. Police say the gunmen were a father and son.
The father shot and killed by authorities at the scene. The son is in the hospital in critical but stable condition. Officials say the younger suspect was previously on the radar of authorities, but he wasn't deemed a threat. He is now expected to face charges. Witnesses describe the chaos as the attack unfolded.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: We thought it was fireworks at the start, and then next second, we're seeing people lying on the floor, so, a kid gets shot. It was probably the worst feeling I've ever seen.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: All hell broke loose just as people everywhere, kids everywhere, kids screaming. People screaming, and yes, just everyone everywhere -- just, yes, it was horrible.
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ABEL: As Australia plans to tighten its gun laws, the country's Home Affairs Minister announced earlier it will expand and expedite the visa process for the victims' families.
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TONY BURKE, HOME AFFAIRS MINISTER, AUSTRALIA: Of the number of people who will have family members overseas, not only in Israel, but in other parts of the world, who will want to be able to get them here rapidly for funerals.
We have set up a specific section of the department rapidly dealing with visa processing at a pace that would not ordinarily be there to make sure that, given the often speedy nature of funerals, in terms of the timeline in the Jewish tradition, to make sure that we maximize the chance for family members to be able to be reunited here at the worst of times.
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ABEL: CNN's Angus Watson is joining us live from Sydney. And Angus, you're at a vigil where there's certainly been some heavy moments tonight.
ANGUS WATSON, CNN REPORTER: It's been very moving here at Bondi Beach just moments away from where this attack happened on Sunday afternoon. The community has come here to grieve, to be together, to lean on one another, show some solidarity on what should be the second night of what is the second night of the Hanukkah festival.
It should be a celebration, instead, it's a memorial. So, here we have the lighting of the special, the menorah, the Hanukkah candles here, in a very moving moment. We've had -- we've had songs, we've even had the Australian national anthem as people come together to mourn. The number of people killed in this attack is at 15.
Dozens of people are still in hospital. The youngest person killed here, a ten-year-old girl named Matilda(ph), who died of her wounds in hospital late last night. The oldest person who -- killed in this attack, an 87-year-old holocaust survivor killed at a Hanukkah celebration on a Sunday in Bondi by two men, anti-Semitic terrorists, one of whom killed by responders at the scene, another in a serious but stable condition in hospital tonight. He's of course, the focus of police investigations. Police today have
raided two houses linked to these two men, and they're moving quickly to change those gun laws. Semi-automatic rifles are already banned in Australia. The government wants to go further so that only Australian nationals can have firearms licenses, and that firearms are -- the number of firearms that anybody can be licensed is reduced because last night, at the attack, the gunman who used multiple weapons was licensed to have them.
ABEL: All right, Angus Watson for us in Sydney. Angus, thank you. The verdict is in, in a landmark trial that's being seen as a test of Hong Kong's freedoms under Beijing. Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty of national security offenses. We will go live to Hong Kong for the reaction to a verdict that is being closely-watched around the world.
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[05:25:00]
ABEL: Media tycoon Jimmy Lai has been found guilty in a landmark national security trial in Hong Kong. Lai was one of the highest profile critics of Beijing after a series of pro-democracy protests in Hong Kong. He was charged under a sweeping national security law imposed on the semi-autonomous city in 2020.
Lai was found guilty on two national security charges as well as a lesser sedition charge. Let's bring in CNN's Kristie Lu Stout live from Hong Kong for us. And Kristie, there has been a few hours now to digest this verdict. What's been the reaction?
KRISTIE LU STOUT, CNN INTERNATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Well, Brian, you know, the reaction has been varied all across the world. Condemnation from western governments and also hearing from Beijing reaffirming the decision that happened earlier today with Jimmy Lai being found guilty on sedition and two counts of colluding with foreign forces.
That is a serious crime here in Hong Kong. Under the Beijing-imposed national security law, it's punishable with up to life in prison. Sentencing will come next. Earlier, Jimmy Lai had pleaded not guilty to all the charges. Earlier today, we surveyed the scene both outside and inside the courtroom. Scores of people turned out to bear witness to this moment.
A number of people sleeping out overnight, waiting in line so they could hear the verdict inside the courtroom. Jimmy Lai appeared calm. He was wearing glasses, a blazer, a light green sweater. At one point, he raised his hand to greet his wife and one of his sons who was sitting right behind me in the gallery and alongside them, Cardinal Joseph Zen, another outspoken critic of the Chinese Communist Party.
And before the verdict was read aloud, we heard in English from the judge who said that, quote, "absolute silence had to be maintained". And after the verdict was read, Jimmy Lai had headphones on, he just stared straight ahead, and there was absolute and utter silence in the courtroom. This is the most high profile national security trial and verdict ever since the law was handed down from Beijing on Hong Kong, the Summer of 2020. This trial has been roundly condemned by western governments, who have called it politically-motivated. Western governments have also called for the release of Jimmy Lai.
In fact, a couple of months ago, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed Chinese leader Xi Jinping to free Jimmy Lai. But the Chinese government have long said that they are warning against any foreign interference. Hong Kong insists that this trial has been conducted in a timely and fair manner, and Beijing has its back.
I have very fresh comment from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, they wrapped up a briefing this afternoon just a couple of hours ago. Let's bring it up for you. And this is what we heard from the China MOFA Spokesman, Guo Jiakun, who said, quote, "Hong Kong is a society governed by the rule of law.
The central government firmly supports the HKSAR in safeguarding national security and punishing crimes, endangering national security in accordance with the law." He went on to say, "we urge relevant.
