casket has made its way through columbia from a funeral home to the statehouse and right past our victor blackwellring this story for cnn. normally, victor, i ask you to give me with the sights, the sounds, the color, the backdrop, the facts behind the story. today i want you to do something very different because you yourself snapped a photograph as the caisson passed you and there is an enormous amount of significance to the photograph i want you to walk me through it. >> it's striking. as that caisson drawn here by the horses was passing by on main street it passed right by the civil war memorial and belwe the kaefg as it w the confederate flag as it was being whipped up by the winds here. and clementa pinckney's activism work inside and outside of the church and all the conversations from politicians, including south carolina governor nikki haley who told the "new york times" that it came down to her not being able to look her son or daughter in the face and defend that flag, that that flag flew high above the capital as the senator was taken in, the symbol, of course, that was used by dylann

victor blackwell live in columbia south carolina to tell us more. good morning victor. >> reporter: carol, good morning. in addition to the funeral of ethel lance, there will also be the funeral for sharonda singleton. there will be continued observances today for the state senator and reverend clementa pinckney. after yesterday's viewing here at the state capital, there will be starting at 11:00 a.m. this morning a viewing from 11:00 to 4:00 at a church just outside of charleston at st. johns ame which is in ridgeland and tonight a wake from 6:00 to 8:00. we've seen so many people trying to show their respect and reverence for this pastor and state senator. a lot of people have been impacted not only by the horrific nature of the killing of the nine people but also the response and spirit of forgiveness by their relatives including south carolina senator tim scott. i want you to watch as he fought back tears while speaking from the senate chamber about a conversation with a relative of one of those kills. watch. >> good caresd cares for his people.

let's bring in cnn commentator, van jones, along with cnn weekend new day anchor victor blackwell. o see both of you gentlemen. so victor you first. what are people telling you about how they are coping? >> well i'll give you an example. we saw this emanuel ame van drive by. on the side it says "doers of god's word." what we saw today was faith in action for real. the idea that four days ago a man went into this church, killed nine people and the congregation is able to go back in they say that is because of that faith. i mean i was raised in a methodist church. van, you were as well. some of this praise him in the hallway before god opens the next door praise him in the hallway, this is a hallway moment where there is a lot of raw emotion, but still they will go back into this church. one man i spoke with this morning said he had to go home to mother emanuel. he delivered an easter speech as a child in this church and there was no other place for him to be although his sister was killed here four days ago. >> i think it's also hard for people who are not a part of the black communi

i'm christi paul. >> and i'm victor blackwell. good sunday to you.ound and from the air in upstate new york. police are looking for these two inmates who pulled off a daring and elaborate escape that sounded like a plot from the movie, and both men broke out of the clinton correctional facility about 25 miles from the canadian border. now police are telling people who live in that area to stay vigilant, lock t

i'm christi paul. >> i'm victor blackwell. pleasure to be with you. this morning we begin in south carolina with new information on the shooter and his plans. >> with nine people killed, there are some pretty shocking revelations this morning that the death toll certainly could have been even higher. affiliate wb-tv reporting dylann roof saying he had seven clips of ammunition loaded and ready to kill. that is one of many developments we are following this morning. >> also the judge in roof's hearing faces a social media fooi fire storm. is there a situation for a judge to use the "n" word in court. and the bonds of heartbreak. listen. ♪ >> faith and fortitude. vigils unfold in charleston and around the country. this one you're looking at here happened last night. there are so many, though, planned throughout the weekend. >> we beginning this morning with nick valencia joining us from charleston. nick, tell us more about these new details, what you're learning about dylann roof and why he chose that church, what many people ha

. >> i am victor blackwell. leaders gathering in front of a castle where they are now meeting. president obama wants world leaders to stand up what he calls russian aggression in ukraine, and of course what is happening with isis. white house correspondent, jim la costa joins us now. president obama gave us a preview of what he will be talking about with the other world leaders. >> reporter: that's right, victor. it's a spectacular setting in the alps, germany, where we are located, and it's the sound of diplomacy at this g7 summit. russia is at the top of the agenda and will be talked about among the g-7 leaders over the next couple days here, i should say, in the alps. the president previewed some of that before the g7 got started, and this was the g8 summit a couple years ago, but because of russia's actions they were booted out of the g8 and now creating the g7, and the violence in ukraine will be first at the top of the agenda, but in addition to that, the battle against isis. here is more of what the president has to say. >> over the next two days, we're going to discuss

. >> i'm victor blackwell always a pleasure to be with you. let's start with the investigation and the investigators who in dallas are digitally mapping the crime scene where suspect james boulware allegedly unleashed his violent attack on police officers this weekend. before he was shot and killed in his van during a standoff that followed. you see the end of it here. officials are expected to hold a press conference with new details on the investigation very soon. of course we'll bring you the latest right here on cnn. live when it happens. >> you know who is talking is boulware's father. he did speak to cnn giving us a better sense of who his son was. now he says he knew that his son was angry with police. and that he was even desperate. but he never expected anything like this to happen. cnn's sara sidner is live in dallas with more of her emotional interview with his man. what stuck with you when you sat down with him? >> good morning christi. he was deeply emotional, as anyone would be when they lose a child. but he was very matter of fa

. >> welcome to your sunday, i'm victor blackwell. >> we want to begin in northern new york. details breaking about the death of richard matt. buffalo news reporting matt may have been drunk when he was shot. and that his body reeked of alcohol. we're going to have more on that in just a moment. we also want to look at one of the cabins here. take a look at this. this was a temporary hideout for the escapees, and you can see how isolated and really remote it is. today's search is focused here on this 22 square mile area near the town of malone and that's where we are this morning. let's start with the details we're learning about richard matt being possibly not just drunk but also ill is that right, polo? >> yeah, christi the people here in upstate new york are waking up to those reports by that local newspaper, the buffalo news now reporting that richard matt was likely not only sick but possibly even intoxicated as he faced off with a border patrol tactical team. the agents who would eventually shoot and kill him. this morning we are making phone calls trying to dig for det

. >>> victor blackwell is here with us. ing to people trying to get an understanding of the surprisingly celebratory tone during the service today. victor what did you make of the themes of surprisingly celebratory tone. what did you make of the forgiveness. what did you think of the people who went to the services outside? >> what we heard from the elders this would be a normal service and i was raised in a methodist church. what you heard today, what people heard, they were methodist themes that you heard at the ame church with the initial praise and worship and blessed assurance and the certainty that even in this difficult time god is there and there is heeling. oh, what a poor taste of glory divine. where the people killed are going are in a better place and it's hard to reconcile what happened with the loss. >> you also spoke with the family members of victims today. what did they have to say? >> i spoke with malcolm graham. his sister was killed in the church on wednesday. he was preparing to go in today. i asked what

. >> i'm victor blackwell. always good to be here with you. this is the "cnn newsroom." we begin in south carolina with new details about the shooter that killed nine people in that church in charleston. we're learning that dylann roof is on suicide watch this morning. that's according to the charleston county sheriff's office. we are learning there will be more rallies and marches and vigils across the country. also atlanta. there is one that will start at the top of the hour in new york. there are people coming together across the country for the victims of this shooting and their relatives. let's go to martin savidge in charleston. new information coming out about dylann roof this morning. >> reporter: there is. good morning to you, victor. the information is coming as a result of going back to the day in which he was taken into custody, thursday shelby, north carolina. he was taken to the local police department before he was transferred back to south carolina. apparently there, he was speaking frequently and openly about what he did and how he did it. we are talking

cnn's victor blackwell is joining us from columbia with more. victor, a somber day. walk us throw what has happened first so far. >> just at this moment schedule told begin at 1:00 eastern. some of the hundreds of people who have lined up in triple-digit heat nearly, to see the body of clementa pinckney. they will start to do that to pay their respects. somber is the right word for what we saw this afternoon as this horse drawn caisson came down main street about a mile from the funeral home here to the statehouse grounds and there was silence. i've said it before that all i could hear was the hooves of these horses and the helicopter above. no one was speaking. as it passed it passed by the civil war memorial below the confederate flag and when you put that in the context, wolf of senator pinckney's views and the national conversation over the past several days, there are many who with are questioning if that flag should have been taken down for at least the passage of senator pinckney's body if not for the entire four hours that he will lie in repose at the state c

. >> welcome to your sunday, i'm victor blackwell. >> we want to begin in northern new york.ails breaking about the death of richard matt. buffalo news reporting matt may have beenru

. >> i'm victor blackwell always a pleasure to be with you.tart with the investigation and the investigators who in dallas are digitally mapping the crime scene where suspect james boulware allegedly unleashed his violent attack on police officers this weekend. before he was shot and killed in his van during a standoff that followed. you see the end of it here. officials are expected to hold a press conference with new

. >> and i'm victor blackwell. we have new information on the shooter and the hunting indicators this could have been much worse. >> nine people killed and now revelations that the death toll could have been higher or just as shocking, the bloodshed may have been able to be avoided altogether. we're getting confusing contrasts here. the reasons why the confessed killer targeted this church are among the morning's many developments. ♪ what a friend we have in jesus ♪ >> for some, an unbelievable display of faith and forgiveness. you can see the vigils there in charleston and around the country. this one held last night. there are lots playing throughout the weekend including one that starts in three hours in new york. >>> also, the judge in dylann roof's hearing is facing a firestorm this morning. is there any reason for a judge to use the n-word? that's one of the questions coming up. >>> we'll start our coverage with new details from the confessed killer. and there are many of them. cnn's martin savage is in charl

. >> i'm victor blackwell. 10:00 this morning on the east coast, 7:00 out west.hanks for joining us for "newsroom." we are starting with the helicopters and the search dogs. 1100 law enforcement officers. a huge rush of resources. police are now searching for escaped killer david sweat. they believe they could have him, here is the word they are using, contained inside a perimeter. the search is going on near the upstate new york community of malone. we are covering this story across several angles and from the area. they are live on the ground. we have jean casarez and polo sandoval inside. give us the latest. >> reporter: the manhunt is in full force this morning. a beautiful day up here. it is a good day for searchers. you are talking about fbi, u.s. marshals uk custom and border patrol and the st. regis mohawk tribal police are here helping authorities today. it was one week ago this morning, just about right now, fourteen miles away. it became known that a cabin had been broken into. new york state police told cnn that they believed conclusively that the inm

we want to bring in cnns victor blackwell. he joins us with the developments. what have we learned? >> dylann roof wanted a more powerful gun. a police report from march 13th an off duty police officer who busted roof on drug possession charges weeks prior spotted roof sitting in a car in a park. he was wearing all black and was alone. this officer was off duty so-called in another officer who questioned roof. roof had, in the back of a vehicle, part of an ar-15 and six 40-round magazines. if you have been following the news you know an ar-15 is used in mass shootings. when questioned roof said he wanted to buy an ar-15 but didn't have enough money. he wanted to take it to a shooting range. roof was released that day. when you consider the damage that was done t attack killing nine people using a .45 caliber glock handgun and we know about the ar-15, i think it's best said that we ought to be thankful roof did not get his hands on that ar-15. >> it makes you sick to think about the possibilities if he had. victor thank you so much. >>> it's an active scene. you can see behind us peo

. >> and i'm victor blackwell. good sunday to you. we're starting with the manhunt going on on the ground and from the air in upstate new york. police are looking for these two inmates who pulled off a daring and elaborate escape that sounded like a plot from the movie, and both men broke out of the clinton correctional facility about 25 miles from the canadian border. now police are telling people who live in that area to stay vigilant, lock the doors because there are lots of officers, maybe 200, who are trying to track down these two dangerous men. let's bring in cnn's paolo sandoval with more on the escape and the latest on this manhunt. >> reporter: victor, that manhunt is now going over just 24 hours, and priority for officials in upstate new york is to track down these two individuals, but also perhaps the other question that's left to be answered is exactly how they were able to pull off such really a sophisticated prison break. >> a massive manhunt is under way for two convicted killers on the run. the fbi, state and local po

. >> pleasure to be with you, i'm victor blackwell. >>> in just koppcop a couple ho president obama and the first family will be in delaware. he will deliver the eulogy for vice president son. they lined up for blocks for his wake and a lot more of this crowd showed up than was expected and more will turn out today. cnn national correspondent joins us live now at st. anthony roman catholic church. sunland we saw the crowds yesterday. are people lining up there now? >> they absolutely are now, victor. on the far side of this church there is already a line forming. the first person in line coming out as early as 4:30 a.m. this morning. this capped an emotional three days of mourning for beau biden. they waited in line for five hours to pay their respects to biden's family. >> we're here to pay our respects, not just to a great person, but a great family. >> anybody who wanted to talk to beau he took time to listen to you. >> reporter: as the community remembers beau biden for three days of ceremony, for family the weight of the loss heavy in each moment. beau's widow comforting their youn

. >> i'm victor blackwell. we start with breaking news in dallas with the active standoff continuing in texas after suspects armed with automatic weapons we are told and explosives attack the dallas police department headquarters. and we have new video of what officials say as many as four attackers are firing automatic weapons at these unsuspected officers. watch. >> come on, guys. [ bleep ] [ inaudible ] [ bleep ] [ shots fired ] >> okay. so, obviously, this is video somebody shot from a rooftop. you can hear everybody in the background. and there they go, that is what started the chase there. you see police car after car and the ones coming in behind it to go after that van that just rammed into the car. this is what else we know at this hour. this attack started at approximately 1:30 this morning. 12:30, i believe. >> 1:30 eastern. >> 1:30 eastern. windows shattered at police headquarters and bullets pierced squad cars. take a look at some of the video or picture that is the police department there in dalla

. >> i'm victor blackwell.lways a pleasure. >>> we start in south carolina with new information on the shooter and a lot of questions about how this could have actually been much worse. >> nine people were killed. bad enough, right? revelations that the death toll, though, could have been even higher, or just as shocking, the bloodshed was almost avoided altogether. the confusing contrast we have for you this morning and the reason why the confessed killer targeted this church in particular. those are among this morning's many developments. ♪ >> there have been vigils in charleston, you see here and some around the country. this one held last night. there are more planned today and tomorrow. >> and investigators say roof has freely admit to the killings so what are the legal option for the public defenders handling this case. >> reporter: first to nick valencia who is in charleston, south carolina, with new information this morning. nick, what have you learned? >> we are learning from our local affiliate wbtv i

. >> i'm victor blackwell. we have been following this story all morning.pictures of the van and the active standoff here. you see in the center of your screen a blue van described to be armored and around it there are police cars dallas police cars. they describe the person inside as potentially armed and dangerous. here's the latest video into cnn into the newsroom of the attack. watch. [ bleep ]. >> come on guys! [ shots fired ] >> okay. so here was the moment you see that black van as it smashes into the police car. this is obviously somebody on a roof. and listen -- you hear all the gunshots going off. and then the black van is going to take off and you're going the see all the police cars just in a line start the chase. this happened about 1:30 this morning eastern time. as many as four suspects we are told are armed with automatic weapons and opened fire on the texas police department. there are windows shattered, bullets piercing squad cars, but officers did act very quickly. they fired back and forced whoever was inside the van to take off. that's

. >> i'm victor blackwell. let's start with the new allegations in the scandal involving dennis hastert. cnn has learned that three people are now potentially accusing the former house speaker of sexual abuse. >> hastert was charged with bank fraud and lying about his bank accounts. the cash was allegedly hush money to keep one of his victims quiet. now we're learning new information from cnn sources that indicate there could be two other alleged victims. cnn's polo sandoval joins us with more. what have you learned? >> the details have been kept very vague, so it really has taken several days for us to truly begin to put these pieces together. we now know that second individual was approached by the fbi, questioned by federal agents and that individual maintains they are not the one, or at least they were not the one who received some of these $3.5 million. and now this morning there is yet another woman who is coming forward saying her late brother is on that list of three people. jolene burge tells abc news

. >> i'm victor blackwell. we are continuing with breaking news. active standoff continuing between the suspects, potentially up to four. dallas s.w.a.t. team in a fast food restaurant's parking lot. first, let's look at how all of this started. [ shots fired ] >> that black vehicle you saw just pulling away, that is the vehicle that is currently in a standoff with police, as victor said, there could be up to four attackers here that may have been firing automatic weapons from various locations in this attack you're watching right now. after the shoot-out, though, police found suspicious bags near the headquarters. we know at least one contained explosives. now we know two of them did because two have detonated. one was detonated by a controlled method, by the explosives ordnance division when they found it underneath a police truck. another detonated on its own when a police robot from the department was trying to move it or get towards it to see what was in it. there are, as we understand it, evacuations as well around the area of the police head

. >> i'm victor blackwell. >>> the breaking news out of dallas, it is an active standoff continuing between potential suspects, dallas s.w.a.t. team, in a restaurant parking lot there. let's take a listen to how this all started. watch. right. here is what we know. up to four attackers may have been firing automatic weapons from various locations. this was a really brazen attack. after the shoot-out, police found suspicious bags near the headquarters. we know at least one contained explosives prompting evacuations from areas around the police headquarters right now. >> now after this shoot-out, it was about 1:30 this morning eastern time, police chased, as more suspects jumped into the van. the attack was an officers exchanged gunfire and shot back and forth before police cornered that van in a fast food restaurant parking lot near an interstate, leading us to where we stand now with swated tea.w.s in talks with the suspects and one has been injured. this is all moving very quickly. >> the details are pouring into the cnn newsroom so bear with us as we work through these details. we can tel

this image of his casket being drawn under the controversial flag from our own correspondent victor blackwellted why she herself cannot take the flag down which would violate current law but the law may soon change as the world is watching what south carolina lawmakers will do. let's get unique perspective from a voice in south carolina and with me from columbia is the great grandson of joseph tolbert who was the only attorney back in the '20s and '30s in the state of south carolina who would even be willing to represent a black man. he was actually once called in a headline the most hated man in the state. jeremy welcome. >> thank you. >> i mean let just begin. tell me about what it is about your great grandfather at the time to sort of almost be ahead of his time. >> absolutely. he certainly stood for what was right back when no one else would. he's a former u.s. attorney representing the state of south carolina. after his post he went back into private practice and was the only white attorney in the state who would represent a black man in court. i think back what would he think on a week