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CNN NEWSROOM
Massive Snowstorm Moves East; School Shooting Lasted Under 80 Seconds; Interview with Hugh Jackman; One Million to Lose Unemployment Benefits; Remembering Newtown; Dealing with Mental Illness; AJ McCarron's Special Bond
Aired December 14, 2013 - 19:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
ROSA FLORES, CNN ANCHOR: Here in the CNN NEWSROOM, I'm Rosa Flores, live in New York. Thank you so much for joining us.
Snow is falling along nearly 1,000 mile stretch of the U.S. from Ohio, all the way into New England. Take a look at this. This is what today's Army/Navy game in Philadelphia certainly one to remember. Snow began falling not long after kick off and continued throughout the game. Navy did pick up the win.
But, Philly could pick up six inches of snow tonight.
CNN's Alexandra Field is following the snow for us. She's live from Boston.
Oh, I thought you already made it. You are still traveling, Alexandra. How is it going?
ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: We are just reaching Boston now, Rosa. It took us about five hours. So, that's more than usual, but not too terrible.
And take a look at what we are seeing now that we are here. A nice blanket of snow falling over the city, if you like the way this looks, well, we should see a lot more of it by tomorrow morning.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD (voice-over): Winter may be officially one week away. But by the looks at what's coming down this weekend, you might think otherwise.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I was home when this started coming down. So, this has been constant all day.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The back roads are all ice and snow. It's hard to drive on and everything.
FIELD: In Chicago, the conditions have been down right frigid, dipping to below average temperatures for days. But now, this 1,000- mile storm is on the move with tens of millions in the Northeast about to get shellacked with large snow and ice. Some places could see more than a foot of snow. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm freezing. This is terrible.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's cold (ph). I don't like it.
FIELD: This wicked weather didn't deter everyone. The Christmas parade went on as planned with Santa braving the elements. Still, utility companies and airports are on high alert, as are emergency crews who overnight had to battle through bitter conditions and thick ice to fight this fire in New Hampshire. With storm warnings in effect for the Northeast, everyone is bracing for what could be a miserable 24 hours.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FIELD: So far, the streets are looking pretty good here in Boston. You can see the main roads are pretty clear. We're seeing more snow on the side streets.
Again, tomorrow morning, though, is when we should see most of it. We are expecting eight to 10 inches of snow around Boston. Outside of the city, further West, it could be as many as 15 inches of snow. So, here comes the first storm of the winter, one week early -- Rosa.
FLORES: Alexandra Field reporting for us. Thank you so much.
Now, Alexandra, just showed you a lot of the roads in the Northeast are quite a mess. And drivers across the snow effected areas are being warned to take extra care.
A little earlier, I talked with Frank DePaula and he's with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. Now they deal with snow all the time but it's the ice that concerns him the most.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
FRANK DEPAULA, MASS DOT ADMINISTRATOR (via telephone): I have not heard any reports of large, you know, large numbers of vehicles spinning out. We have been pre-treating, so we are hoping -- it is very cold here. It's only about 20 degrees where I am right now, but, we are expecting later this evening, at least South and East of us, a little bit of a warm front coming in and a bit of a change over in precipitation.
FLORES: Now, Frank, this is early in the season for us to be seeing this, right?
DEPAULA: Yes, normally, by this time we have had a few small events. This is, you know, eight to 12 inches is a good event for early December.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Many thanks to Frank DePaula, with the Massachusetts Department of Transportation. So, where is the storm headed?
Let's get a check of the weather with Karen Maginnis in the CNN Weather Center.
KAREN MAGINNIS, AMS METEOROLOGIST: It isn't winter yet, but people are out trying to shop for the holidays. And here comes the big winter storm. But some interesting things are going to take place.
For New York, a couple inches of snow, and then right about midnight, it changes over to rain. Boston, you'll see the snow until the early morning hours. Then you will see a changeover to rain.
And temperatures are going to be warming up. So, those temperatures in New York were only in the mid-20s all day long. In the forecast, you start bouncing around with temperatures, but still not going to be near normal for the next three days or so.
Here is what we are expecting as far as snowfall totals. Eastern Great Lakes will see significant snowfall, maybe as much as a foot. It will be along the northern I-95 corridor we'll see some pockets of potentially heavy snowfall.
But in the coastal areas, it's mainly going to be possibly starting out with snow and then changing over to rain. How about temperatures? Buffalo goes from 20s to the teens to 30 degrees.
New York City, you'll see about 38 for Sunday afternoon. Then back down into the 20s. By Tuesday, you are back up to temperatures in the 30s. Washington, D.C., for the most part, we've got 40s for Sunday, 30s for Monday and back to 40s again on Tuesday.
So, we'll keep you updated on the very latest.
Back to you.
FLORES: We are also following another story out of Colorado. One minute and 20 seconds. A high school senior shot up his high school, critically wounded a classmate and then killed himself in less than one minute and 20 seconds.
That's what we just have been told by the sheriff of Arapahoe County in Colorado. He told us his deputies are combing through evidence, talking to witnesses and trying to learn what drove an intelligent 18- year-old boy to bring a shotgun to school and open fire. The sheriff also explained how the teenager got the gun.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SHERIFF GRAYSON ROBINSON, ARAPAHOE COUNTY, COLORADO: We also know that based on our investigation that the shooter purchased the shotgun on December 6th, at a local retail outlet. The weapon was purchased legally. The individual is 18 years of age and he is able to purchase a shotgun legally in the state of Colorado at the age of 18.
Yesterday morning, prior to coming to the school, the individual also purchased multiple rounds of shotgun ammunition that we believe was the ammunition that he brought into the school with him before he involved himself with the assault and with the shooting.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: Let's go live to Centennial, Colorado, that's where CNN's Casey Wian is.
And, Casey, fill us in on the latest.
CASEY WIAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, the latest from the sheriff, Rosa, key development in this case he named the victim of the shooting, that her name is Claire Davis, a 17-year-old senior at Arapahoe High School. She remains in critical condition at a local hospital. She has major head trauma from a shotgun wound at point- blank range.
Here's what the sheriff had to say about this young woman.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
ROBINSON: And I know that Claire Davis is a young woman of principle. She's a young woman of purpose. She is an innocent young lady and she was an innocent victim of an evil act of violence.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
WIAN: The sheriff going into details about how well-armed this shooter was. He walked into the high school yesterday about 12:30 carrying a shotgun, carrying a -- with bandoleer strapped around his chest, with multiple rounds of ammunition, shotgun shells that he just purchased, according to the sheriff, that morning.
He also had a long knife and he had three Molotov cocktails, only one of them exploded. The sheriff saying it was very clear to him that the shooter was intent on injuring multiple, multiple victims. It's a testament to the quick reaction of the sheriff's department and school officials that only one person was injured in this shooting -- Rosa.
FLORES: And, Casey, what else do we know about the shooter?
WIAN: Well, we know that he was a member of the school's debate team. We know that he had some sort of dispute, a disciplinary action related to the debate team and we know that he told people when he walked into the school that his target was the debate coach.
Students, fellow students described him as someone who was very intelligent, someone who is very interested in politics. Many people have said he talked a lot about socialism and communism. They also describe him as very socially awkward.
The sheriff saying that the revenge against this teacher who managed to escape before the shooter was able to reach him was the motive for him coming into this campus armed the way he was. But they say he was clearly looking to inflict maximum damage on many victims, Rosa.
FLORES: And, Casey, if you can stick around, I want to bring in also criminal defense attorney, Holly Hughes.
And, Holly, you've been listening to all this information unfold. What is your take?
HOLLY HUGHES, CRIMINAL DEFENSE ATTORNEY: Well, interestingly enough, the sheriff told us this shotgun was purchased legally, because at 18, in the state of Colorado, you can buy a shotgun, but you can't buy a handgun until you're 21.
So, the question becomes, why? You're going to kill somebody with a shotgun like a handgun. So, I think we are going to see reform on the gun laws that are happening out there.
The other thing that jumps out of me, Rosa, is the quick response time of that sheriff's deputy and the school resource officer. They got in there, they announced themselves to that shooter and he chose to take his own life, as opposed to shooting at the officers or continuing to inflict more injuries on his fellow classmates.
So, we've got to be very, very grateful for the quick response of law enforcement and the resource officer here. I think those schools without those particular folks on staff are probably going to be reconsidering hiring people that will stop these things before they get to be mass shootings.
FLORES: Holly, unfortunately, this is a very familiar scene for us. We have seen multiple shootings in multiple states over multiple years.
HUGHES: Right.
FLORES: Any idea what you think could be done to, perhaps, stop this?
HUGHES: Well, I think it is a combination of gun laws and mental health issues. You know, there has been a lot of federal funding that was cut to help and assist people with mental health issues. There's also the stigma attached to it, Rosa, so people don't want to accidentally label someone.
But what we need to do as a community is come together and ask ourselves, would I rather report something that I think is suspicious or a little off to the proper authorities? Go to the school guidance counselor, go to parents, go to local law enforcement. If you see something, say something before it gets to the point of random violence, before we see people acting out.
If you are mistaken, the professionals will discreetly speak to that person and maybe you'll be a little bit embarrassed in your own mind, but you know what? You may save a life if you are correct in thinking something is wrong here, something needs to be addressed.
We need to be more aware. We need to care more about the shooters as well as the victims.
FLORES: Casey Wian and Holly Hughes, thank you so much for joining us.
And now, we switch gears. A big event is coming to Washington, D.C. You know him. Take a look at your screen, as Wolverine. Yes, folks, that is actor Hugh Jackman. He'll be joining me after this short commercial break.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FLORES: It's the holidays, time for big family dinners, gifts and, of course, TNT's annual holiday show, Christmas in Washington. It's a star-studded event attended by the president, the first lady, and other Washington VIPs. And if you were thinking of yawning and tuning out, my next guest, they changed your mind, actor Hugh Jackman will be hosting the event.
And, Hugh, thanks so much for joining us. We appreciate it.
Now, this is a big deal -- a lot of VIPs, the president, also. Are you nervous?
HUGH JACKMAN, ACTOR: You know, always, I like to call it excited. I'm very excited. I have not met the president or the first lady and my family is going to be here, too. It's got me more nervous about that.
But I'm very, very excited. It's a great honor. And look at this building, I have never been in this building before.
So, this is extraordinary. We are going to have a great show. Let me tell you, it's going to be awesome.
FLORES: You're like playing reporter now, telling us about the scene.
Now, there are some great performers. We know Sheryl Crow, Backstreet Boys, Charles Barkley, any surprises that you can tell us about? Maybe perhaps leak a little information here on national TV?
JACKMAN: Well, I don't know, it's not very often you say Backstreet Boys, Sheryl Crow, and Charles Barkley performing. That was kind of a surprise. I'm sure Charles, (INAUDIBLE) I'll have his name.
But Anna Kendrick is performing. I'm very excited about that. She's an actress, "Pitch Perfect." She can sing. She got a huge hit. My kids are very excited about Anna Kendrick and so am I, and a lot of other surprises.
But the rest, I have to keep some mystery, Rosa, come on.
FLORES: Now, we have been digging, I've got to say. And we were surprised to learn that this isn't the first holiday special that you've hosted. Take a look at this gem that we found in the CNN vault.
JACKMAN: Oh, no.
(VIDEO CLIP PLAYS)
FLORES: Now, I've got to ask, who is the better performer, Mickey or the Backstreet Boys? (LAUGHTER)
JACKMAN: You are going to get me in so much trouble, Rosa, so much trouble.
But when ever someone says we have prizes from the vault, I immediately hang my head, because everything I did back then, which was pre-YouTube, is never going to be found.
FLORES: Ooh, tell us more, Hugh.
JACKMAN: Trust me, there's some things I don't want to be found. No, I can tell you that. But, I will be singing on the special. So, there's another surprise.
FLORES: Ooh, there we go. Thank you so much for the little sneak peek.
JACKMAN: But not with Charles -- not with Charles Barkley.
Why don't you come down, Rosa? We can do a little duet.
FLORES: I would love to. Thank you so much for the invitation.
Now, we were talking in the break about Australia. You are going to Australia for the holidays. Any special traditions that you celebrate with?
JACKMAN: Yes. Well, here is the really odd thing about Australia, because, you know, we have a lot of English traditions. Our shops are filled with fake snow and everyone walks around like Santa's walk around in suits literally fainting because it's 100 degrees, right? So, we still eat. I don't know why.
We have the roast, sort of turkey, we have the ham, we have pies. We have mashed potatoes and gravy. Everyone is sweating into their food. So, we still do it.
We got to look, now, people are adjusting a little more. We go to the beach. Yes. I'm still trying to get those images of Santa in a Speedo out of my head, let me tell you.
FLORES: Oh, wow, share the video, please?
Now, you are probably going to hate me for this, but we have another video from our vault, roll it.
JACKMAN: Oh my --
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
JACKMAN: In Australia, where I'm from, instead of Santa Claus, we were visited by the Christmas kangaroo that brought gifts to all the boys and girls. But the Christmas kangaroo wouldn't just give you the gifts. We Australians are rough and tumble bunch, this kangaroo lived by code. Your father would have to fight him to the gifts. (END VIDEO CLIP)
(LAUGHTER)
FLORES: The kangaroo? You have to tell us about this. Are you ready for kangaroo this year?
JACKMAN: Yes. No, it's a true story. It really does happen. I'm glad you caught that skit there, by the way, Rosa.
That was one of the hardest things I have ever done. Will Ferrell, it's live, I could barely get through it without laughing. But, yes, we are kind of a tough bunch there in Australia. We fight for our gifts.
FLORES: Tough bunch. Tell us about your new movie. You're filming in South Africa, and it has to do with family, criminals and robots?
JACKMAN: Yes, this is a Neill Blomkamp's movie. It's called "Chappie." And Neill was very famous for doing a movie called "District Nine," which kind of rewrote the science fiction genre actually. This year, he had a movie called "Elysium."
He's a brilliant, brilliant filmmaker. We're shooting in there for a couple of weeks. It's set in the future.
And I actually am not sure what I have to take. So, I'm going down there in January. As soon as I get the green light, Rosa, I'll call you first and I let you know about it.
FLORES: Oh, my gosh, please, yes. Call me and tweet me anytime you want.
Now, tell us about the special you are going to be hosting. Anything else that you'd like to add about that?
JACKMAN: Well, you know, it's a great tradition. I'm thrilled to be part of it. I, of course, watched it a couple times in the past and I'm a sucker. I love this time of year.
I was brought up in a church going family. This is always a very sort of important time of year. And to do it here with the president and first family, I have to admit, I looked at the seating arrangement and to see the first family and my own first family in the same row, it's one of those pinch yourself moment, you know?
I have been blessed in my life, my acting career, but this one I even though while -- I was rehearsing, I was like, I got to remember this one. So -- and I hope the kids do, too.
FLORES: Thank you so much.
Definitely a time to just breathe and remember the moment and move on.
Hugh Jackman, thank you so much for joining us.
JACKMAN: Exactly.
FLORES: We appreciate it and we look forward to seeing you host --
JACKMAN: My pleasure.
FLORES: Thank you so much. He's going to be hosting Christmas in Washington next Friday night, at 8:00 Eastern and Pacific on TNT.
Out of work Americans would love to see Congress expend unemployment benefits before the holidays. But that's looking less and less likely.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Are you ready to see me on the street begging for food? You know? I know I'm not ready to.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: No one wants to see that, but it could soon be reality for more than 1 million Americans.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FLORES: More than 1 million Americans are about to lose their federal unemployment benefits at the end of the month because Congress hasn't extended those long term jobless benefits.
CNN's Tory Dunnan looks at how the political stand off in Washington is hitting home for one woman in Virginia.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TORY DUNNAN, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): For Mary Cary, this is home sweet home.
MARY CARY, UNEMPLOYED: You see his big feet.
DUNNAN: At 53, she lost her job in June after 20 years as a medical biller. Now, she's desperate.
(on camera): How many of these have you sent out?
CARY: Probably around 300 and 400.
DUNNAN (voice-over): She's one of more than 1 million Americans receiving long term emergency unemployment. Up to 99 weeks, instead of 26.
CARY: We are asking for a helping hand so that we can get a job.
DUNNAN (on camera): And you are actively trying to?
CARY: Every day. Probably 12 hours a day.
DUNNAN (voice-over): President Obama wanted lawmakers to extend them. BARACK OBAMA, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: If members of Congress don't act before they leave on vacations, 1.3 million Americans will lose this lifeline.
DUNNAN: They are set to expire December 28th.
CARY: I know will survive. I know my son will survive. I won't have this home that I've worked hard for, for eight years, but I worry about my animals, because they didn't have a choice.
DUNNAN: In true Washington form, it's become a political debate.
REP. NANCY PELOSI (D-CA), MINORITY LEVEL: At the level of immoral to do the people who work hard, play by the rules, lose their job through no fault of their own.
SEN. RAND PAUL (R), KENTUCKY: I support unemployment benefits for the 26 weeks that they are paid for. If you extend it beyond that, you do a disservice to these workers.
DUNNAN: Michael Strain is an economist at the conservative leaning American Enterprise Institute.
MICHAEL STRAIN, AMERICAN ENTEPRISE INSTITUTE: The problem with that logic is, while it may apply pretty well in a healthy economy, it doesn't apply as well in an economy that's still very weak.
DUNNAN: People on unemployment benefits generally stay unemployed longer. In a recession, it's different.
STRAIN: If their benefits expire, they may conclude their job search is hopeless. They may just leave the labor force, which means some of them may end up on public assistance rules.
DUNNAN: Something Mary Cary says she'll be forced to turn to.
CARY: Are you ready to see me on the street begging for food? You know? I know I'm not ready to. My life's not over. I might have slowed down a bit, but I can be a very contributing member to society.
DUNNAN (on camera): Mary Cary could be waiting weeks for benefits, if she gets them at all. The House has gone home for the year, and Senate leader Harry Reid says he won't take it up any extension until after the New Year's.
And with Republican opposition, that's far from a short thing.
Tory Dunnan, CNN, Washington.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLORES: And still ahead in the CNN NEWSROOM, it's been a year since the tragedy in Newtown, Connecticut. Our Anderson Cooper talks with the families of the victims, next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK) FLORES: A year after a gunman opened fire inside Sandy Hook Elementary School, bells tolled 26 times across Newtown, Connecticut today. Once for each of the victims, 20 first graders and six adults killed in a senseless massacre carried out by a disturbed man.
At the White House this morning, the president and first lady lit candles in honor of each of those victims, the president marking the first anniversary with the message in his weekly address.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
OBAMA: We haven't done enough to make our communities and our country safer. We have to do more to keep dangerous people from getting their hands on a gun so easily. We have to do more to heal troubled minds. We have to do everything we can to protect your children from harm and make them feel loved and valued and cared for.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
FLORES: CNN is respecting the wishes of all those families and not sending reporters to Newtown today.
The people of Newtown are still trying to figure out why a gunman walked into the Sandy Hook Elementary School and killed 26 people. Anderson Cooper went back to Newtown to see how families are holding up one year later.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: That's Betty. She was certainly the favorite.
ANDERSON COOPER, CNN CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): Annette Sullivan taught Avielle Richman horseback riding.
ANNETTE SULLIVAN, AVIELLE RICHMAN'S MENTOR: Out to the rail.
COOPER: Something the six-year-old loved to do. Along with archery, skiing, pretty much anything that promised a challenge.
JEREMY RICHMAN, AVIELLE'S FATHER: (INAUDIBLE) She's a fun kid.
COOPER: A fun kid and wise beyond her years.
SULLIVAN: This is where the old house once was.
COOPER: Annette's house burned to the ground in 2010.
SULLIVAN: And I explained to her it was the fire and we hadn't decided what we were going to do there. She basically asked me why I hadn't planted some flowers. I told her that the ground was scorched and that flowers wouldn't grow. She said to me that I should plant flowers, even if they weren't going to last forever.
COOPER: That statement from this little girl had a big impact on Annette. SULLIVAN: Even if beauty is only fleeting, isn't there something to be found in acknowledging the beauty we have today. We planted flowers anyway.
COOPER: Avielle's instinct to create beauty in the middle of the ugliest of circumstances was obviously nurtured at home. At the very lowest point in their lives, Jeremy Richman and Jennifer Hensel began to ask what they could do to prevent future acts of violence.
JENNIFER HENSEL, AVIELLE'S MOTHER: After Avielle was killed, I couldn't sit on a couch. I had to be on the floor, I had to be grounded.
COOPER (on camera): So you would just be laying on the floor?
HENSEL: Or sitting or leaning against the couch. But I had to be on the floor. I felt if I stood up, the world would spin away.
COOPER (voice-over): Jennifer and Jeremy are both research scientists. He has a Ph.D. and has worked extensively in neuroscience. While at the rock bottom, Avielle's parents decided to honor their daughter by trying to answer the question, why do people become violent.
RICHMAN: And we do think that there are physical manifestations in the brain that lead to all our behaviors. If we can understand those, we can help nudge them one direction or another to make things happier and healthier.
COOPER: In other words, treat the problem and stop violent behavior before it ever happens.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLORES: And at the top of the hour, meet more of the Sandy Hook parents and how they turned their losses into legacy. An Anderson Cooper special report, "Honoring the Children: Newtown One Year Later." That's coming up at 8:00 Eastern.
And of course, mental illness was a large part of the conversation in the wake of Newtown and other similar tragedies.
Next, our very own Sanjay Gupta talks with one woman dealing with mental illness every day. Not in her, but her 14-year-old son. That's coming up next.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FLORES: He's 14 and hears voices. He's been hospitalized more than 20 times. His mom is tired of seeing the country focus on the mentally ill only when there's a national tragedy. So she and her son are telling their story, a story of a family on the brink. Here is CNN chief medical correspondent, Dr. Sanjay Gupta.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
STEPHANIE ESCAMILLA, SON HAS BIPOLAR DISORDER: When people meet my son, they don't see a mental illness.
DR. SANJAY GUPTA, CNN CHIEF MEDICAL CORRESPONDENT (voice-over): I want to tell you a story about the love between a mother and her son.
ESCAMILLA: They don't see the 20 hospitalizations. They don't see that he hallucinates. He strives to be a normal kid but he has something that holds him back from doing that.
GUPTA: To protect his privacy, we are not going to show his face or use his real name. For the next few minutes, he'll be known as Daniel.
DANIEL: I honestly, I don't know my own strength. When I hit the bag, I think of the voices.
GUPTA: At age 10, Daniel was diagnosed with bipolar illness. Even with medication, he hallucinates and hears voices.
ESCAMILLA: It would get heated because he would yell at me. When he would yell at me, I would get offended because he was being disrespectful to me.
DANIEL: I'm trying to help you. You can't help me too.
ESCAMILLA: I don't tell you when to hear voices.
DANIEL: I can't handle it anymore.
ESCAMILLA: Without once thinking that, well, he's hearing voices. He's trying to talk over those voices and with talking over the voices, he has to yell.
GUPTA: We wanted to get to know Daniel and understand what life is like for a teenager with mental illness.
There's laughter. Fights about homework. He's in the eighth grade but also this.
ESCAMILLA: Is there a way I can show up there and wait in the waiting area? I don't want to be driving around with him like that.
DANIEL: I was hearing voices and all of a sudden, I have the urge to cut. I started cutting my arm.
GUPTA: He was cutting himself, again. It ended with a trip to the hospital. Daniel stayed for a week. If Stephanie seems to take it in stride, it's because she's seen worse. Even worse than what you are about to see.
(on camera): What is it like to record your son?
ESCAMILLA: It was horrible. What gets me most are his eyes on the video. He's got huge, beautiful eyes crying. You could see the despair in his eyes. It breaks my heart.
GUPTA (voice-over): Last year, after a family fight, there were pills, too many of them. Daniel tried to take his life. He was just 13 years old.
DANIEL: I wanted to die so bad because I was tired of my life. I'm sorry I put you through that and I'm sorry I made a poor mistake. I really, really want you to know, I will never do that again.
ESCAMILLA: It's really hard for me to -
DANIEL: Do you believe it?
ESCAMILLA: No, it's not so much that I don't believe that. It's a trauma that no parent needs to go through and it's really hard to say, OK, I believe you. He doesn't understand that - that for weeks after that and it's still happening, I worry every day.
There's one thing that I remember the most is him begging the nurses to let him die. That's one of my biggest fears.
You OK?
One of these days, he's going to get old enough to where I can't protect him.
GUPTA: Despite some high profile cases, the facts are people with mental illness are more likely to hurt themselves than anyone else. They are more likely to be victims of crime rather than perpetrators.
ESCAMILLA: Every few weeks, I help law enforcement understand what it's like to live with a family member who has a mental illness.
DANIEL: Go away. Go away. Go away.
ESCAMILLA: When he was hospitalized, he would call me and he would tell me, if you don't come tomorrow, I know you are dead. They are telling me they are going to kill you. You know, it's things like that, you know? Nobody knows how that feels.
When I think about Newtown and several other shootings that occurred, this would help put in perspective how to approach a mentally ill person.
Telling my story helps me with acceptance.
DANIEL: Is it open still?
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Yes.
ESCAMILLA: I see myself being the person he comes to all the time. I've accepted that.
GUPTA (on camera): Your mom is such a strong woman and she loves you so much. I asked her, I said people say that one person's love can make all the difference. Can your mom's love make all the difference for you?
DANIEL: Mm-hmm. GUPTA: You think she can help shepherd you, get you through this?
DANIEL: Yes.
GUPTA: As a dad myself, it is jarring to hear, but also somehow affirming. After all they have been through, most of all Daniel wishes he could one day be just like the mother who loves him so much.
ESCAMILLA: I just want - ultimately, I want him to be happy. I really do want him to be happy. And I need him to know that when he's in the dark place, I'm always here.
GUPTA: You're always there.
ESCAMILLA: Always.
(END VIDEOTAPE)
FLORES: Sanjay will have a lot more on this story on "Sanjay Gupta MD" and that airs tomorrow morning at 7:30 Eastern right here on CNN. You can also read and watch more about the story on cnn.com/health. We'll be right back.
(COMMERCIAL BREAK)
FLORES: "Anchorman 2, the Legend Continues" is one of the most anticipated and widely hyped movies of the season. The film chronicles the misadventures of TV anchor Ron Burgundy and his news crew. It was nine years in the making with the plot shrouded in secrecy. While filming in Atlanta, we caught up with Burgundy and News Team 6, we should add to get the inside scoop on what you can expect. Roll it.
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UNIDENTIFIED MALE: The great ones always return. Jesus, McArthur, Jay- Z.
We haven't seen you in awhile, America. You haven't changed a bit.
WILL FERRELL, ACTOR: My name is Will Ferrell and I'm playing the character of Ron Burgundy.
The movie is now set in 1980. We pick up with Ron and his crew all over the place doing various things.
Let's do it.
Jeff Khan (ph), he's running his Whammy chicken franchises.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Oh, god, I have longed for you. Frank (INAUDIBLE) is the world's most foremost kitten photographer. And then we attend Bricks' funeral.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: And I will not rest until I find his killer.
FERRELL: Which, of course we find out he's not dead. UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Why? Why did you take him from us?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Brick, you are not dead.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I'm alive?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Yes.
FERRELL: Ron collects the team and they go back to New York City to begin the launch of GNN.
We are starting a 24-hour news channel. First of its kind, GNN.
That is without a doubt, the dumbest thing I have ever heard.
STEVE CARRELL, "BRICK TAMLAND": Everybody is betting against it. No one thinks that this concept is going to work. I think we're the news team that prove them wrong.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: This feels right. The news team is back.
FERRELL: They end up kind of mistakingly and through their own resourcefulness and bad journalistic impulses to create a new type of news form that leads the network to great heights.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's take a look at the big map. Where's the map? Look at the monitor.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ron, where's my legs? I don't have any legs, Ron. Ahh!
DAVID KOECHNER, "CHANG KIND": We find a way to lit it up. It's all I can say.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Tonight's top story is - you see that right away. It's just refreshing.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: What's the feeding time for that mustache of yours?
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: That might be the funniest thing I've ever heard.
FERRELL: Here's the cameos I can confirm with you. The recently retired Pope, we just got him. Ted Turner. Ted Turner's brother. Rob. Rob Turner. And Miss Teen U.S.A. from six years ago.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Let's watch 50 home runs in a row. Whammy. Whammy and whammy.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: I should say lower your expectations, then you're going to be blown away, but I would say it's going to be a party and you're going to love it!
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Do what god put Ron Burgundy on this earth to do. Have salon quality hair and read the news.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: You. You stay classy. (END VIDEOTAPE)
FLORES: We're definitely going to try to stay classy. My favorite line, I should add, I'm a glass case of emotion. "Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues" opens in theatres December 18th.
And in the next few minutes, we'll learn who won the college football, the college football's Heisman trophy. You probably know who the favorite is. But there's another young man we want you to hear about. Not because of his great skills, but because of his great friendship with a classmate. That's next.
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FLORES: We're keeping an eye on a storm that's barreling into the northeast. This is video from the Army-Navy game in Philadelphia. Philly could get six inches before it stops. By the way, Navy won 34 to 7.
This is the same storm that dumped about six inches of snow in Chicago. Folks there are worried the snow will turn to ice tomorrow, with temperatures not getting out of the teens. Stay with CNN and CNN's severe weather team for all of the latest updates on the weather.
Now, this is the teenager who is in critical condition this evening. Shot at point-blank range by a classmate yesterday near Denver. Police say Claire Davis, 17 years of age, was shot in her school by a fellow student on a rampage just before he committed suicide. Investigators say the shooter was looking for a school staff member.
If you thought yesterday's megamillions drawing was exciting, just wait. The next jackpot will be worth $550 million. Yes, more than the half a billion bucks. Now, the odds of winning are about one in $259 million, according to the lottery company. So your chances of hitting it big, hear this, your chances of getting hit by an asteroid or comet are about 1,000 times better. The drawing will be on Tuesday.
In a few minutes, a college football player will win the sport's most coveted award. The Heisman trophy, of course. The smart money is on famous, or should we say infamous, James Winston. The Florida State quarterback leads the top rank team in the country. But Alabama quarterback A.J. McCarron is a contender as well. Win or lose, he will always be a hero in that state and not just because of the two national titles he won as quarterback. Another reason, his special bond with a fellow classmate.
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AJ MCCARRON, ALABAMA QUARTERBACK: I'll always remember him, watching football through the cracks of our fence just so he can see a glimpse of the team, standing in rain, cold weather, whatever it was, just because he wanted to be around the game. We had gotten done with practice and I saw two buses starting to pull away. I saw A.J., I could tell you know, he had some type of disorder. And tried to like raise his hand at the bus, two buses and they just pulled off and it was starting to rain and so, I just felt bad.
AJ STARR, ALABAMA STUDENT: (INAUDIBLE) you need a ride?
MCCARRON: He just had this big smile on his face and was like, yes.
STARR: As I got closer, I'm like, that's A.J. McCarron.
MCCARRON: And so we're pulling around. I'm taking him home, he lives right down the street. I'm like, I'm A.J. McCarron.
STARR: Yes, I know who you are. My name's A.J. also.
MCCARRON: If that's not a message from above, I don't know what is. I was holding tears back just hearing his story, him having cerebral palsy and how it happened to him. Umbilical cord got wrapped around his neck when he was in his mom's stomach and cut off his airway.
STARR: Having cerebral palsy, it's hard to go out into the real world and meet people.
MCCARRON: He got out of the car, started balling, crying, I couldn't take it anymore. I called Joe (INAUDIBLE), the director of our football operations here and I told him the story, is there any way we can get him a job here. He called me back the next day, he's going to help in the equipment room, getting all the stuff ready when we play games and doing laundry. He's not going to get paid. I told A.J. that and he's like "I don't even want to get paid. I just want to be here, be around the team."
STARR: And I was so excited. I get to be around football players and just interacting with all the guys. I'm so thankful for all A.J. and his organization has done.
MCCARRON: Here's a kid, you know, who's been through all types of obstacles and he still wakes up smiling every day and ready to go to work. I feel like he's taught me more than I've actually or given me more than I've actually given him.
STARR: Every time I come here, no matter how bad my day is or what I may go through, when I come here, it goes out the window. The attitudes and being on this -
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FLORES: Amazing and touching story. You're in the CNN NEWSROOM. I'm Rosa Flores, live from New York. Thank you so much for spending part of your Saturday with me. Our Anderson Cooper special report, "Honoring the Children: Newtown One Year Later" begins right now.
