CNN The Situation Room-Transcript

Interview

CNN The Situation Room-Transcript

BLITZER: We counted 27 shots in that one minute or so of videotape.

We're going to be speaking to the student who took that videotape, part of our I-Report series. We're going to get some specifics on what he saw, what he heard -- 27 shots on that little snippet of tape. The massacre comes as Virginia's governor is out of the country right now. He was to begin a two week Asian trade mission in Japan today. He'll be returning, though, immediately.

Governor Tim Kaine is joining us on the phone from Tokyo.

First of all, Governor, our deepest condolences to everyone at Virginia Tech. I know this is a university very close to you. You gave the commencement address there last year.

GOV. TIM KAINE (D), VIRGINIA: I did, Wolf.

It is a university that is a very, very wonderful and tight community. It has been hit by some tough -- tough circumstances this year. And today's tragedy is just absolutely awful for the whole Commonwealth.

BLITZER: You -- I assume you heard the news conference from the president of the university, the police chief there.

What can you add? what do we not know about these circumstances because there are still so many unanswered questions?

KAINE: Well, Wolf, there are unanswered questions and I think the university is trying to put -- put the things in the right order. The most immediate thing to do now is to make sure that all of the victims are identified and that every next of kin receives notification as promptly as possible. That is the first priority, and then dealing with those grieving family members and students.

I'm returning to campus so that I can be on campus with the students and family members and faculty tomorrow.

Obviously, the investigation as to the instance is -- is continuing. And I believe every few hours the university will obviously be briefing the press on what more they know.

The state police -- I received notice -- I landed in Tokyo and arrived on a trade mission to Japan and India at about 5:00 p.m. now last night and then was called at -- shortly after midnight about this instance and am returning home within the next couple of hours.

BLITZER: What was your immediate reaction, Governor, when they told you?

Because initially we were told maybe one person was killed. But then the numbers exploded. The latest numbers now released by the university, 33 people, including the gunman, dead.

KAINE: Well, when I was told, I mean it just -- my heart went out to the community. As your viewers know from the -- from your coverage today, the first day of school last fall, there was a very tragic incident dealing with an escapee from a local jail who shot a deputy sheriff and a security guard at a local hospital.

I went down and attended both of those memorial services and dealt with the university community and it was a very, very tragic thing.

The -- some of the incidents around the shooting happened on the Virginia Tech campus. And this -- this community has been through a lot.

So my first thought when I was called last night and given this news as just feeling very badly for the Virginia Tech community. It is a tight community with a great deal of spirit. They have been through a difficult time this year already. And that was the first thing that came to my mind.

BLITZER: There is no confirmation, no identification of this shooter.

Have you been told anything in general terms, what -- what he was doing, what he was trying to achieve, if there was a motive?

KAINE: Wolf, no, I do not have any more information than that. I've spoken with the -- with the head of the campus police. I've spoken with the state trooper who is in charge of the operation for the Virginia State Police on scene. I had two conversations with President Steger and then my own chief of staff has been in touch with the -- with me throughout the last six or seven hours.

And so -- but in terms of the identification of the shooter, I do not have any more information that I can share right now.

BLITZER: The president of the United States, President Bush, spoke out just a little bit -- a while ago, about an hour-and-a-half or so ago.

Has he been in touch with you? Is he making federal resources available for this investigation?

KAINE: Yes, Wolf.

The president called me. It's -- it's now 6:00 a.m. Tokyo time and the president -- and I was notified shortly after midnight. The president called me probably somewhere between 3:00 a.m. and -- 3:00 a.m. or 4:00 a.m. and we talked about this. And he, you know, both expressed his, you know, significant concern, but also indicated that he wanted to make available federal resources to the greatest extent he could.

The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms are already part of the investigation. And I very much appreciate it and I know that President Steger at Virginia Tech did, as well, the call from the president. We feel like we are getting good cooperation from these federal law enforcement agencies.

It is now a, you know, a cooperative law enforcement endeavor where you've got the Virginia Tech police, the local sheriff's office and town police, and then the Virginia State Police and these federal officials all part of the investigation right now.

BLITZER: And I know you're getting ready to fly back and go right to the campus of Virginia Tech. 2:00 p.m. Eastern they're scheduled to have, what, it's being called a convocation tomorrow?

KAINE: Yes, it's a...

BLITZER: I know you're going to be there for that.

KAINE: Yes, I am. It's a -- a gathering for all in that community who feel affected. It will, you know, be a, you know, a vigil, a chance just to share the pain and grief of this experience, but also to -- to make very plain that this is a community that is a very resilient community. And the grieving will be deep and it will not be quick. But there is no doubt in my mind that this community is a strong community and will -- will -- will persist through this and -- just as they in so many other instances.

But, yes, we -- we were here for this mission and part of the mission in India included some work with Virginia Tech. Virginia Tech offers some degree programs in India and they were part of the Indian segment of this delegation.

But it is very important that I be back on campus. And so, within a couple of hours, my wife and I are going to be getting on a plane to head back.

BLITZER: Governor, have a safe flight back.

We'll speak to you tomorrow.

An awful, awful situation happening on the campus of Virginia Tech.

We're watching it nonstop.

Governor, thank you very much.

Our deepest condolences to everyone on the campus, everyone in Virginia.

We'll be right...

KAINE: Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: Thank you, Governor.

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