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One Escapee Killed, Another Being Pursued; Lyle Mitchell Investigated for Aiding with Escape; Supreme Court Rules Gay Marriage a Right; Border Patrol Tactical Unit Killed Escaped Convict Richard Matt. Aired 5-6p ET

Aired June 26, 2015 - 17:00   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

[17:00:00]

TAPPER: Tom Fuentes, thanks so much for joining us.

That's it for THE LEAD.

I'm Jake Tapper.

I'm going to turn you over to Wolf Blitzer in THE SITUATION ROOM, who will continue with this coverage, this late breaking story about the fugitives in New York.

WOLF BLITZER, HOST: Happening now, breaking news -- escapee shot, multiple sources now say the fugitive, Richard Matt, has been shot and killed. And police are now chasing the other escapee, David Sweat. We're getting new details on the stunning breakthrough in this manhunt.

Judgment day -- the U.S. Supreme Court makes history, ruling that same sex couples must be allowed to get married in all 50 states. The landmark ruling sets off jubilations, but also some sharp criticism from some of the Justices and some presidential candidates.

Amazing grace -- President Obama delivers a stirring eulogy for Reverend Clementa Pinckney, the pastor of Emanuel AME Church, who was murdered with eight of his congregants.

I'm Wolf Blitzer.

You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.

ANNOUNCER: This is CNN breaking news.

BLITZER: We're following important breaking news.

In New York, the manhunt there, law enforcement sources now telling CNN one of the inmates, Richard Matt, has been shot hand killed by police. At last reports, teams are now chasing the other escapee, David Sweat.

Also today, an historic decision sparks a tremendous celebration over at the United States Supreme Court. The 5-4 decision will allow same- sex marriage nationwide, redefining U.S. civil rights. And just now, in words and in song, a powerful and emotional call to action by President Obama.

Our correspondents and experts, they have new details on all the hour's breaking news.

But let's begin with the stunning new developments in the three-week- old manhunt in Upstate New York. Multiple law enforcement sources now say the escapee, Richard Matt, has been shot and killed and police are in hot pursuit of the other fugitive, David Sweat. The breakthrough follows the discoveries of what police called conclusive evidence uncovered in the search.

Let's go to our national correspondent, Deborah Feyerick.

She's got more.

What are you learning -- Deborah?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN CORRESPONDENT:

BLITZER: Well, we're learning, according to multiple sources that all our correspondents are speaking to, and that is that Richard Matt has been shot and killed. And apparently about 1:35 today, shots were fired at a camper van. That camper van then calling 911. And it may have been those shots that essentially exposed the two prisoners and where they were located.

Now, we are told that as of right now, there are no eyes on David Sweat. That means while they were chasing him after Richard Matt was shot and killed, somehow he managed to elude authorities.

But he is now alone. These men spent three weeks together, and even longer planning this escape. They spent three weeks on the run, trying to figure out what their next move would be. And now David Sweat all alone.

We do not know whether, in fact, he has any sort of weapon or firearm on him. We do know, however, that shots were fired at that camper van, which is making its way to Malone, New York, not far from the Canadian border -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And do they believe that these two guys were together at the time that Richard Matt was shot and killed by police?

FEYERICK: Wolf, that's what it appears, because as soon as they shot and killed Richard Matt, they took off after a person that we're told was David Sweat. But somehow David Sweat, whether he had the advantage of distance or the advantage of cover in that wooded area, right now, we are being told, as of a couple of moments ago, they no longer have eyes on David Sweat.

So that could change any minute. This is clearly very fast developing. You've got people from -- you've got police from the New York State police, from the Corrections Department, from tactical teams, from the special operations group, from the U.S. Marshals. So you've got a lot of people and they are bringing all forces to bear.

But what they were doing earlier

Today, Wolf, is they were making sure that they set up a perimeter close to the Canadian border, setting up really what was really a line so that these two men could no escape.

What they plan to do with that camper van, if, in fact, they were able to get into that camper van, well, that's clearly going to be a part of this investigation, whether perhaps they even thought of going across the border somehow.

BLITZER: All right, we're going to get back to you.

Deborah Feyerick is working her sources.

Jean Casarez is on the scene for us.

She's getting more information.

What else are you learning -- Jean?

JEAN CASAREZ, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Let me tell you right now, as we stand right here at the command center for the New York State Police, people are just driving back and forth, honking their horns at the command center and at us, thumbs up.

So they are getting the news and they are happy.

Now, when this news broke, and when we broke it, all of a sudden, helicopters. New York State police started leaving from the command center, one by one after the other, because it was true that there was a pursuit of David Sweat. And that pursuit, they obviously wanted to help by air.

But here's what the New York State police have been telling us. It was yesterday near the village of Malone, so within that new area, and the north-northwest area approaching the border of Canada, that a cabin was burglarized.

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And what police tell us was that what was found in there, to them, was conclusive, conclusive. Then, this afternoon, they actually found some things in the field area. We don't know how close to that cabin. But we were told they were processing those items at the state lab, processing it, obviously, for DNA. But they felt that what they had found was extremely significant.

And then, in the next breath, they said that they do believe these men are armed and very dangerous. And then it was now probably less than an hour ago that all this came down and began to happen.

You know, earlier today, I was talking with a neighbor of the defendant, Gene Palmer, who said that she is personal friends with the man that owns a shotgun that was taken out of that cabin last Saturday. And remember, the DNA of Matt and Sweat was found in a cabin last Saturday about 10:30 a.m.. She said it was an antique shotgun, that it had been in the family for a long time, but it was something special. It was something that so obvious to the occupant of that cabin when he went to check on it, he knew it was missing immediately.

So law enforcement proceeding. They were armed and dangerous, as Deb Feyerick has been reporting, also Pam Brown, that shots may have been fired to a camper this afternoon, an alleged hijacking -- carjacking incident.

And so at this point, as we have said, there is no eyesight of David Sweat at this point. And it is 5:00 in this area. It is still light out. But in a couple of hours, it will be dark. Obviously, much more difficult for those to help find this escapee.

BLITZER: Jean, stand by.

Our justice correspondent, Pamela Brown, is getting some more more information on that carjacking.

What are you learning -- Pamela?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, we've learned, Wolf, that apparently Richard Matt had gotten a hold of a gun along the way and had shot at the driver of a camper near Malone, New York this afternoon in an apparent carjacking. That's what officials think he was trying to do, along with David Sweat. It was -- this was a carjacking. He shot at the driver of that damper and the driver of that camper called 911 and alerted authorities.

We have learned that after that, according to sources, there was a shootout. And that is when Richard Matt was killed -- Wolf.

BLITZER: So the obvious conclusion is these guys are armed -- at least one of them, Richard Matt, was armed and fired a weapon, is that right?

BROWN: That's -- yes, that's right. And then what officials are trying to do right now is figure out if, of course, David Sweat has a weapon and where they were able to get these weapons. We know that they raided a cabin over the last few days and so there is thinking that perhaps they were able to steal a weapon or weapons from one of the cabins. It's unclear right now, but what is clear, according to sources, is that there was a shootout and Richard Matt was killed after what was an apparent carjacking.

BLITZER: And the hunt is underway for David Sweat, who's being chased right now.

All right, Pamela, I want you to stand by, as well.

I want to get a closer look at the fugitive who's been killed in this shootout.

Brian Todd has got more on what we know. what do we know -- Brian?

BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Wolf, we've been reporting on these two inmates for the last three weeks in detail.

Here's what we know about Richard Matt. Forty-nine years old. He was serving 25 years to life for kidnapping and beating to death his former boss, William Rickerson. Rickerson's body was found dismembered. That murder took place in 1997 in North Tonawanda, New York.

Now, Richard Matt he also got a Marine Corps insignia on his right shoulder, heart tattoos on his chest and left shoulder. His front teeth were reported to be metal, knocked out by prison guards in Mexico.

Now inside the Clinton Correctional Facility, sources close to the investigation have told CNN that Matt had a relationship with Joyce Mitchell, the woman who worked with Richard Matt and David Sweat at that prison tailor shop.

Mitchell is alleged to have passed the two inmates tools inside frozen hamburger meat. Mitchell's husband has denied that she had sex with either inmate.

Now, Mitchell's attorney says that Richard Matt considered Clinton Correctional Officer Gene Palmer, who has also been charged in this case, as quote, "his boy." Palmer's attorney has not commented on that.

Now, after those Rickerson -- after that Rickerson killing in 1997, Richard Matt fled to Mexico to get away. He served nine years there for killing a man in a bar fight in Mexico.

Then he was extradited to the U.S. to stand trial in the Rickerson case. A detective from that case described Richard Matt as psychotic. David Bentley -- here's a quote that he gave to "The New York Times." Quote, "I have seen him inflict wounds on himself, cut himself, break his collarbone and not seek any treatment. He's just totally, totally fearless and does not respond to pain."

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This also, Wolf, we have to point out, this was not Richard Matt's first escape. In 1986, he broke out of a jail in Erie County, New York, but he was recaptured after that. This is the end of a long and violent trail for Richard Matt -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Erie County is where Buffalo, New York is.

What do we know about the other inmate, David Sweat, who is still being chased?

TODD: That's right, Wolf. Sweat was serving a life sentence for killing this man, Kevin Tarsia. He was a sheriff's deputy in Broome County, New York. Tarsia reportedly shot 15 times and then run over as he approached David Sweat while investigating a burglary in 2002. David Sweat, according to sources, also had a relationship with Joyce Mitchell inside the prison. One former inmate at Clinton who worked with David Sweat and Joyce Mitchell in the prison tailor shop -- his name Eric Jensen -- he told us he believes that Sweat and Mitchell had sex inside the shop's closet at least 100 times.

Mitchell's attorney has has denied that -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And now that we have confirmed that Richard Matt is dead, that's certainly a relief to the detectives who put him away to begin with, right?

TODD: Absolutely, Wolf. And, you know, we've talked to a couple of former detectives who worked on that case, one detective who worked on Richard Matt's case, that 1997 murder. He told me that police contacted him and warned him of Richard Matt's escape back on June 6th. Another detective who helped put Matt away told the "New York Times" that he had been prepared to defend himself if Richard Matt came after him.

We had been told by law enforcement experts, former prison wardens and others, that for either of these two inmates, if they had any kind of freedom of movement, it might have been playback time for those detectives who put them away. And those gentlemen are, I'm sure, at least grateful tonight that this man is out of the mix.

BLITZER: All right, Brian, thanks for that report.

That live picture -- take a look at this. This is near Malone, New York. You see a police officer there. The suspicion is that David Sweat is being chased in this area.

Richard Matt, the other escapee, has been shot and killed in this general area, but now the hunt is underway for David Sweat. They're looking for him and there is obviously deep concern that David Sweat is armed. He's obviously very, very dangerous.

Joining us now is our law enforcement analyst, the former FBI assistant director, Tom Fuentes.

Also joining us on the phone is Lenny DePaul.

He's a former commander for the U.S. Marshals Service -- Tom Fuentes, what do you make of this late breaking development?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: Well, I think it's a fantastic development that they've got Matt. He's gone. Now it's down to just one. And they've got a fairly confirmed location for where these guys had been and had been heading. So I think it's very, very likely that Sweat is going to be in custody by morning.

BLITZER: Either in custody or dead.

FUENTES: Well, the same definition, just whether he's breathing or not.

BLITZER: Right.

All right, Lenny, what do you think?

LENNY DEPAUL, FORMER COMMANDER, U.S. MARSHAL SERVICE: Yes, no, absolutely. I guess I mirrored exactly what Tom was about to say. But, you know, both of them, if they were taken alive, they're going to spend the rest of their lives in segregation. So, you know, I didn't expect anything other than what's transpiring as we speak. So it's kind of a, you know, the way it's going down, and hopefully no law enforcement gets hurt.

But, you know, it's accurate. About 1:30 this afternoon, that camper did report -- or called 911 on shots fired. And then he didn't realize that his camper had been hit until about 20 minutes after that. He got back on the phone and said, you know, my camper was struck. Obviously, they were trying to carjack this fellow driving a camper. So thank God he was not injured. And so this is what prompted law enforcement, New York State troopers, U.S. Marshals, the task force, to respond to that area.

BLITZER: So, Lenny, the hunt now for David Sweat, assuming he is armed, this is extremely, extremely dangerous for the law enforcement personnel on the ground.

DEPAUL: Oh, absolutely. And taken into consideration what just transpired with Matt and, obviously, they're armed, you know, suicide by cop, who knows how this is going to play out?

It certainly doesn't look -- it doesn't look that good, you know, for him. But hopefully, he's contained.

I'm pretty sure that they probably have them or have him in their crosshairs as we speak. Aviation support, everybody is there. So we're just keeping our fingers crossed.

BLITZER: Well, what worries me, Tom, is the community. If the individual, some private citizens who may be in that area, they potentially could be in danger themselves.

FUENTES: They're in great danger, Wolf. And now that he's more desperate than before -- you know, before they were just trying to maybe by stealth go from one cabin to another, one location to another. But now, nothing to lose. He knows he's being hunted, knows they're closing in. Any measure he can do to try to escape now, whether it's break into a home, get more weapons, get a vehicle, carjack a vehicle, the public is in extreme danger. Law enforcement is in extreme danger. He's got the advantage if he's armed and could hide behind trees and be a sniper as police officers close in.

So this is dangerous for everybody.

BLITZER: Yes, they're closing in, but they don't have eyes on this David Sweat, at least not yet. We're going to...

FUENTES: He might have eyes on them.

BLITZER: He may -- well, you know, let's see.

We're getting some more information.

I want to take a quick break.

Much more on the manhunt, a very, very pivotal moment underway right now.

[17:15:04] One of the killers has now shot and killed himself. He was shot and killed by police. And another is still on the run, but they look like they're closing in.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: We're following the breaking news. Richard Matt, one of the two escaped murderers in upstate New York, he has been shot and killed.

Let's go to our justice correspondent, Pamela Brown. She's got new information on how all of this went down. Pamela, what are you learning?

PAMELA BROWN, CNN JUSTICE CORRESPONDENT: Well, we're learning from sources, Wolf, that Border Patrol tactical unit, was the one that killed -- shot and killed Richard Matt. The authorities were -- flooded the scene in Malone, New York, after there was an apparent carjacking there earlier today.

And a member or members of the Border Patrol tactical unit shot and killed David Matt -- or Richard Matt, I should say.

[17:05:21] And in case we're wondering who are they, they were called in by New York State Police from the very beginning. This is a unit that provides immediate response capability to emergent and high-risk incidents, requiring specialized skills and tactics.

So just because this is Border Patrol, tactical unit, doesn't mean it happened right on the border. This was a unit that was called in very early on to help out with this. And they came to that area in Malone, New York, where Richard Matt was shot and killed, because again, of an apparent carjacking -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Because earlier in the day, as you know, Pamela, we heard the New York State Police commander say there was fear these two guys were trying to make their way closer and closer to that Canadian border. So the -- obviously, the U.S. Border Patrol was on the scene. And what you're reporting is that they shot and killed Richard Matt.

Any indications that they've got a sighting, at least, of the other escaped killer.

BROWN: Well, that's what we're waiting to find out, Wolf. We have calls into our sources right now. As you know, it's a very fluid situation, rapidly developing, as of about 20 minutes ago, they didn't have eyes on him, but of course, that could change by now. And they obviously are in the right area, because they believed that they were in Malone, New York, earlier today.

But it's just a question of whether or not they're close to his vicinity. And that is a question we can't answer right now, but we hope to soon.

BLITZER: All right. Stand by, Pamela. Because we've got Lyle Mitchell's attorney, Peter Dumas, on the phone, joining us right now. Lyle Mitchell is under arrest for allegedly aiding in this escape.

Peter, thanks very much for joining us. What can you tell us about your client in this particular case? What's he saying to you?

PETER DUMAS, ATTORNEY FOR LYLE MITCHELL (via phone): Well, I can fill in that Lyle isn't under arrest right now, and he's not under suspicion at this point, either.

BLITZER: What is he?

DUMAS: He's, well, an innocent bystander, really. He's been questioned by the police. However, there's no plans to arrest him at this point.

BLITZER: His wife, Joyce Mitchell, is under arrest, correct?

DUMAS: Yes. Yes, she's currently incarcerated and awaiting further proceedings.

BLITZER: So he's free, though. Did he have to post bond?

DUMAS: No, he didn't. He didn't get arrested at all.

BLITZER: He didn't -- but what is their suspicion? What are authorities telling you about this individual?

DUMAS: About Lyle?

BLITZER: Yes.

DUMAS: They're telling me right now that he's been fully cooperative. We've made the authorities aware that he's continuing to offer his cooperation in any way that he can.

BLITZER: Does he believe that his wife aided these two guys in their escape?

DUMAS: He does. He's spoken to his wife and gone back to the police with all the information that she's given him.

BLITZER: Because he's spoken to her, he went into the prison to speak with her, right?

DUMAS: He did.

BLITZER: And what did she say to him?

DUMAS: Well, she told him the entire plot, and what he did was listen to her very carefully, went back to the police and told the police everything that she want to him.

BLITZER: And he was, according to at least him and to you, I assume, he was duped by his wife into smuggling some of these tools into the prison so they could use them to escape?

DUMAS: No. He did not have anything to do with the tools going in. But he did know that, subsequent to the escape and subsequent to his wife talking to him, his wife told him that she brought a couple of hacksaw blades in, a screwdriver bit, and a few other things.

BLITZER: All right. Hold on. I want to take -- I have to take a quick break. We're going to resume the breaking news coverage in just a moment.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:28:36] BLITZER: We're following the breaking news. Richard Matt, one of two escaped murderers in upstate New York has been shot and killed by U.S. Border Patrol tactical team after he apparently tried to carjack a vehicle this afternoon.

We're back with Peter Dumas. He's the attorney for Lyle Mitchell. Lyle Mitchell is the husband of the prison worker who has been charged with helping the inmates escape. Lyle Mitchell, of course, has not been charged with anything. He's fully cooperating with the authorities.

Gene Palmer another prison -- a prison employee, he has been charged. He has been arrested for cooperating with this escape.

Peter, as we go through this process, I assume your client, Lyle Mitchell, has been stunned by the revelations, the confession, in effect, he got from his wife.

DUMAS: His whole life has turned upside-down.

BLITZER: How's he doing right now?

DUMAS: Well, I just spoke with him about half an hour ago when I was hearing the news. There was breaking, and I let them know that I had heard that Richard Matt had been killed. He said it was a tragic ending for it, but at least the people in Franklin County and surrounding areas are safe now. He hopes that they can -- they can catch the other inmate without -- without killing him, so that some answers can come out.

BLITZER: There's -- there's also this report, as you well know, Peter, that Lyle Mitchell, your client, the husband of Joyce Mitchell, that his life supposedly had been threatened. Tell us about that.

DUMAS: That was revealed to him by his wife the first time that he spoke to her after she revealed it to the police.

[17:30:04] She was very apologetic to him, but he said he was just in shock when he heard it. He's not sure that his life was ever really in danger because, of course, it would have taken these individuals coming all the way from Dannemora to St. Regis Falls, New York, which is quite away out of their way, but it really shocked him.

BLITZER: Is it your sense -- your client's sense that these two escaped killers had help from Joyce Mitchell, Lyle Mitchell's wife, and Gene Palmer, but maybe others in the prison as well, or just the two of them?

DUMAS: Well, he -- just from everything he's seen on the news and everything he knows about the facility, he thinks that they must have had other help.

BLITZER: From the inside or from the outside?

DUMAS: He'd only be speculating if he answered that. And I've talked to him about it. He said he just doesn't know.

BLITZER: Is he worried about his own security right now?

DUMAS: Well, I think the way that anyone in the Malone area is worried right now, well, now one of them just out and about in that area, but especially worried, because he's Lyle Mitchell? No.

BLITZER: Well, we -- tell him we thank him for his cooperation with the authorities. I know he's going through an awful, awful period discovering, as his wife confessed to him, as you just pointed out, her involvement in this escape.

Peter Dumas, thanks very much for joining us.

DUMAS: Thank you. Thank you, Wolf.

BLITZER: I want to go to CNN's Alexandra Field, she's joining us from Malone, New York, right now. That's where the search is intensifying.

We know, Alexandra, that one of the escaped killers had now been shot and killed, Richard Matt. David Sweat, he's still on the run. What can you tell us?

ALEXANDRA FIELD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Police still out here, Wolf, certainly looking for David Sweat and keeping a close eye throughout this area. If we zoom across that water there, into those deep woods, you can see where officers are still standing guard. We're seeing that all throughout this area of Titus Mountain where the search really closed in, in the last 24, 48 hours. This has been an area that investigators have been focused on throughout the week.

There have been several reported sightings that weren't deemed credible, but Wolf, we watched the entire operation sort of shift into the town of Malone within the last day. That was after the discovery was made of a cabin where police felt that they had found credible evidence that the fugitives had been there. That cabin discovered just yesterday. This morning they found more items that they believed were linked to these fugitives.

So as early as this morning, they were telling us that this was really the area of concentration. We know of course that they closed in on Richard Matt, that he was shot dead this afternoon. David Sweat, they are still on the lookout for him and they have not eased up. You can see down this road where some of the checkpoints are still established.

And, Wolf, as this was unfolding, as police were closing in on Richard Matt for that encounter, you could really see the operation intensify from eye level out here on the ground. Things really changed in terms of the nature of the operation this afternoon. Roads that we were able to pass through. Roads where we were able to stop and have our car checked and proceed forward on were suddenly closed off to everyone.

Officers saying that it was imperative to just keep people out of the way, and then soon quickly after that, the news breaking that they had Richard Matt. Of course the level of alertness here remaining high as they continue to pursue David Sweat.

BLITZER: Which is totally understandable. People have to be careful out there. There's -- this David Sweat, he's still at large right now and presumably armed.

Alexandra, stand by. I want to get more from upstate New York. Our national correspondent Polo Sandoval is right near the scene of the manhunt in Titus Lake in New York.

What are you seeing, what are you hearing, Polo?

POLO SANDOVAL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: And Wolf, that information has a lot of people nervous here. That David Sweat remains on the run. I spoke to a few of the residents who call this area home just south of the town of Malone. Many of whom say at least half the threat is gone. Now the concern is to track this individual down.

If I step out of the shot, you'll see just one -- just several authorities that have been really rushing to this area, again just south of Malone. The Clinton County sheriff now confirming for us that they are all rushing to the scene in an area that's commonly known as Elephant Head, specifically the northwest side of Lake Titus. It's an area that is really just heavily visited through the wintertime as a ski resort.

During the summertime, though, there are plenty of campgrounds there, Wolf. We've told you before about that concern of authorities that these people, the families, have been heading out to this remote part of upstate New York to spend the summer, and so that has been a heavy concern here on the minds of authorities is that these two individuals could have been hiding out in that area.

Now today obviously that fear confirmed. We are now getting that information that at least one of these runaway fugitives continues on the run as authorities continue to pour into this part of upstate New York -- Wolf.

BLITZER: Are you seeing a lot of activity over there, Polo, where you were? A lot of police activity?

SANDOVAL: Yes, Wolf. About half an hour ago we were in the town of Malone, which is only about 10 miles north of here, and we watched as several police officers pretty much rushed out of their hotels, strapped on that body armor, grabbed their guns and then piled into SUVs, many of them really running hot to this area here, lights and sirens blaring as they tried to back up officials here.

[17:35:20] That information that we're getting again, several of the reporters from other sources as well. Again that information that at least one of these fugitives has been killed. And now the search continues for the second one.

One thing I have -- I did notice here, Wolf, we haven't seen the police presence in the area that we've actually witnessed the last every 20, 21 days or so in and around the Dannemora region. So it will be interesting to see exactly how we begin to see the number of law enforcement personnel steadily increase, not only on the ground, but potentially in the air as well.

BLITZER: It's still daylight but it's going to get dark fairly soon. I'm sure that will complicate matters tremendously as the hunt for David Sweat continues.

Much more of the breaking news right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:40:26] BLITZER: The breaking news we're following, multiple sources now telling CNN the escapee Richard Matt has been shot and killed. And authorities are pursuing the other fugitive, David Sweat.

Let's get an update from our national correspondent Deborah Feyerick.

Deborah, what else are you learning?

DEBORAH FEYERICK, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: What we're learning is that at about 3:45 p.m. according to the New York state police, a member of law enforcement did see a man in a wooded area near the town of Malone, New York. Law enforcement shot and killed that individual, believed to be Richard Matt. Now right now they are waiting for a positive test -- positive DNA tests to come back to confirm 100 percent that in fact it is Richard Matt, but you they do believe that it is that fugitive.

Now he was -- he was found about 70 miles from the Canadian border. We are told that in fact police believe that they were moving in a north-northwest direction towards Canada. They alerted authorities in that direction so that if they moved ahead they could at least be stopped. So effectively they were doing almost like a sandwich effect where people are coming from up and people were coming from down.

And we are told that the men were moving at night, and whatever information these two men got or had, we're also learning that shots were fired at a camper. Now the driver of that camper called 911, and it wasn't until they drove a little further that they realized that their camper van had been shot, and again they told authorities that same information. Now you have to think about the manpower that's in that area right

now. You've got highly specialized teams in place, tactical units from New York state police, corrections, customs and border patrol, U.S. Marshals, anyone who is up there, they were really mobilizing them, because they believed that they were getting closer and closer, the state police saying that they did feel that these men were in Franklin County -- Wolf.

BLITZER: And they feel that they were together because the statement from Major Charles Guess, the New York state police commander, he says that at approximately 3:45, which is almost exactly two hours ago, they spotted a man in a wooded area in the town of Malone and they shot and killed this man believed to be Richard Matt.

FEYERICK: Yes.

BLITZER: So it's been two hours now since that occurred, and in the past two hours, they obviously have intensified the hunt for David Sweat.

FEYERICK: And Wolf, the one thing I do want to clarify about David Sweat. The words that I am now I'm being told is that officials are in hot pursuit. That's the word that authorities are using when I speak to them about this search now for David Sweat, who is alone. This man who he has been inextricably linked to, you know, over the last couple of years and certainly in the last couple of weeks, that man is now dead, and he understands he is alone. It's not clear whether he's armed and it's not clear whether law enforcement actually confiscated a weapon from the individual Richard Matt who they shot dead -- Wolf.

BLITZER: All right. We're going to get back to you. Stand by.

I want to bring in our law enforcement analyst, the former FBI assistant director Tom Fuentes and former chief deputy, U.S. Marshals, Matt Fogg.

Hot pursuit, Matt, what does mean technically? They -- obviously they think they know where he is and now they're chasing him?

MATTHEW FOGG, FORMER CHIEF DEPUTY, U.S. MARSHAL: Pretty much. I mean they feel like the information that they have is just stay close to him. Pretty much. They may not have exactly something from him but they feel like they're close.

BLITZER: Does it mean they actually have a sighting of him or they at least had a sighting of him?

FOGG: I think it means that if they got one of them, they shot one of them, they've got to assume that they were together, so they're in hot pursuit. Maybe the dogs have picked up a scent. That's what I would think it would be, just they're closing off that area, they're doing the crunch perimeter effect where they're just crunching and closing in the area. And that's what they would consider hot pursuit.

BLITZER: What does it say to you, Tom, that it's been now two hours since the authorities -- the Border Patrol in effect shot and killed Richard Matt, but they haven't been able yet over these past two hours to find the other killer?

TOM FUENTES, CNN LAW ENFORCEMENT ANALYST: It doesn't surprise me, Wolf, that it would take a little more time to get him if he had a chance to run into the woods, you know, as that shooting was taking place with Matt, or if he had already separated after the attempted carjacking. So we don't know that, but if they're using the term hot pursuit, the common use of that term is you're in chase mode, you have him or you're very close, or the dogs are howling and they're chasing him through the woods. So that usually is a term that means they're very close to having him.

BLITZER: But it's an extremely dangerous moment. You've got to assume that David Sweat, Matt, is armed.

FOGG: That's right. He's a cop killer. This is the one that killed a cop. So we've got to realize this guy would probably most likely wouldn't have a problem shooting at another police officer. So they've got to really be on -- all their P's and Q's have to be very careful but they've got the right people there. I mean, the fact that they brought in the SWAT team to meet with the Border Patrol people. People who know their stuff. I was on the SWAT team. A lot of training and understanding how these people operate.

[17:45:10] BLITZER: What advice, Tom, should they be giving the local residents or the tourists who may be in that area?

FUENTES: Well, I think for now the advice would be to, you know, get in your house, lock the doors, stay low. If you've got a weapon, have it in your lap and just be ready. This could -- this guy could pounce through your door any second and do a home invasion, looking for more weapons or food or take hostages or carjack whatever vehicle they might have. So it's very dangerous for the public and I think at this point they probably don't want them out -- getting out of the house and just roaming around through the county complicating their search efforts. So for the most part they're going to want the public to stay still.

BLITZER: You agree with that?

FOGG: I agree 100 percent because right now you've got police everywhere with guns everywhere. You don't want the public out there anywhere where they can be mistakenly or they can be accidentally shot.

BLITZER: Right.

FOGG: You want them inside and out the way.

(CROSSTALK)

BLITZER: You don't want an individual who may even out of appearance may look like David Sweat. You don't want him running or walking around or doing anything, or be going hunting, for example, because that inadvertently could cause a disaster as we all know. FOGG: No doubt.

BLITZER: All right. Guys, stand by. We're going to continue to follow the breaking story. The hunt is on for David Sweat. Richard Matt has been shot and killed. We'll have much more right after this.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

[17:51:02] BLITZER: Our breaking news, sources now say the escaped prisoner Richard Matt has been shot dead. The chase is on for the fellow fugitive, David Sweat.

CNN's Alexandra Field is joining us live from Malone, New York, that's near where this drama is being played out right now. What's the latest, Alexandra?

FIELD: Hey there, Wolf. We know that a chain of events led up to the shooting and ultimately the death of Richard Matt. Law enforcement officials had told me that there were shots fired in one area. Later, a bullet hole discovered in a camper. And then finally, Richard Matt found.

Now our producer, CNN producer Shimon Prokupecz filling in some of the very key details of how all of this went down in the area that police have been so heavily focused on. We're now learning that at 1:30 in the afternoon near Route 30, a series of shots were fired. Around 2:00, near 1:19, another series of shots were fired. That's when somebody discovered a bullet hole in their camper but the driver didn't even realize at the time that the camper had been shot at.

After that, we've learned that police then did a sweep of that area and that is where they approached Richard Matt. Sources are telling CNN that Matt actually approached law enforcement officers with a shotgun. We know that he was ultimately shot by police. But key here is this detail, Wolf. Law enforcement officials telling CNN that they found two sets of tracks in that area. They of course believe the other set of tracks would belong to David Sweat where there's now a very intense search for the sole fugitive still on the loose.

BLITZER: Stand by, Alexandra. We're going to get back to you. I know you're working your sources, all of our team up there, they're working their sources, we'll get some more information.

Matthew Fogg, you're a former chief deputy U.S. Marshal, what do you make of that, that they found two sets of footprints, if you will?

FOGG: Well, that answers the hot pursuit. You have two sets of footprints, that say you're right on the trail. Stay on that trail, crunch that trail in, put your perimeter right around that area, should be a short period of time before they get him.

BLITZER: If it's a heavily wooded area, very remote, you're moving in with dogs I assume, Tom.

FUENTES: I would think so. If they've got all of these footprints and dropped items that have DNA on them, then it should have their scent as well and David Sweat's scent in particular. So I would think that that would be fairly easy at this point. We see that there's good weather up there at the moment. It's not torrential downpours. That the dog could get the scent and just take them on through the woods right after Sweat.

BLITZER: How much more complicated will it be once it gets dark, assuming he's still on the loose?

FUENTES: Well, I think the fact that they have a perimeter established, I mean, they could sit tight overnight, use the helicopters with infrared search capability during the night to see if anything's moving on the ground, and just keep him penned in. And in the morning squeeze in even tighter again.

BLITZER: We heard earlier today from the New York state police that they apparently -- these two guys were trying to move closer and closer to the Canadian border. They're only right now, at least based on what we're seeing, only about 25 miles. The surviving killer only about 25 miles from the Canadian border. What difference would it make if he actually got into Canada? I assume the Canadian authorities would be there in full mass as well.

FOGG: Yes, well, I don't know if they would have had the type of resources that they're spending right now in the area. So if they got across that border, sure, the Canadian authorities have always worked well with us. But again, to put that type of manpower on it, I think they would have been probably had a little more leeway once they got across.

BLITZER: U.S. Border Patrol, they could go into the Canadian side and help, right?

FUENTES: What would happen in that case is that the various agencies through their attaches in Ottawa would seek permission for their personnel to go in, the country would grant country clearance, and we could send all 800 officers across the border if we got Canadian permission and U.S. ambassador permission to do that, which in this case they would. So --

BLITZER: Yes, they can.

FUENTES: The border is not going to be an issue.

BLITZER: Yes, I totally agree, given the close U.S.-Canadian relationship, that would not be much of a factor. A little diplomacy but that would be easy to resolve.

FUENTES: It will be.

BLITZER: All right, guys. Stand by, much more on the breaking news coming up.

Sources now say the prison escapee Richard Matt has been shot and killed. Police are now chasing the other fugitive, David Sweat.

And the United States Supreme Court makes history today ruling that same-sex couples must be allowed to get married in all 50 states. The landmark ruling sets off jubilation, also some sharp criticism. We'll update you on what's going on.

[17:55:13]

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

BLITZER: Happening now, breaking news. Fugitive killed. Sources say one of the two convicted murderers who escaped from a New York prison has been shot dead by Border Patrol. The other escapee being chased right now. Are authorities closing in on him? More of the breaking news.

Historic ruling. The U.S. Supreme Court says same-sex marriage is a constitutional right.