[Harlow:] Police in Ferguson, Missouri working around the clock hoping to identify whoever shot two police officers on Wednesday night. The reward for information now sits at $10,000, much of which came from public donations and that number could grow as more people donate. Investigators say so far they have come up short in the manhunt. But they do say they're pursuing several leads that they may even have a correct lead on whoever fired the shots. Let's bring David Klinger. He is a professor of criminologist and criminal justice at the University of Missouri, also former LAPD officer. David, thanks for being with me.
[David Klinger, Former Los Angeles Police Officer:] Thanks for having me.
[Harlow:] Just some background for our viewers here, you were a former police officer back in 1981. You and your partner were involved in this incident. Your partner was attacked, stabbed. You ultimately ended up killing that suspect in south L.A. So not only do you have that background experience, but you're also right there in Ferguson. What is the reaction to these two officers being shot on Wednesday night? And I wonder if you're surprised that there have been no arrests yet.
[Klinger:] First of all, in terms of reaction, there's a reaction in the law enforcement community. Speak with my friends who are in law enforcement still, you know, I left some 30 years ago, but at any rate, a great deal of concern and a sense of what it takes so long. And what I mean by that is law enforcement officers here have been listening to the chants, you know, "kill the cops" on so forth, follow social media. And they're kind surprised that it took this long. And so they're very saddened, but they're not surprised. Then the community, obviously, I have a lot of contacts in the community as well, not law enforcement. And there is a great deal of concern about the dangers officers face. And so the community is largely rallying around the officers.
[Harlow:] Let me ask you this, so many of the protesters have been peaceful protesters. And we've heard a lot of them including the family of Mike Brown come out and condemn this violent act calling it heinous. This shouldn't happen. So a lot of protesters say, look, those shots didn't come from within our ranks. All though, it's also important to have a strong relationship between the police force and the community, especially when you need information from the community about who may have fired the shots.
[Klinger:] Absolutely. And in terms of the peaceful protesters versus the groups I've been calling for months the knuckle heads, there are some very bad actors who are mixed up along with the peaceful protesters. And even during the first rioting, during August and then in November again there were bad actors who were doing bad things who were firing shots. We're not quite sure who they were aiming at. Fortunately as indicated officers weren't struck. But as you point out, being able to keep a positive vent between the police and a majority of the community is very important. And it in terms of developing leads, as you pointed out, that's vital. People generally do want to come forward. They generally do want to assist police catching violent felons particularly those after police officers. But we have to remember there are some bad people out there who aren't going to want to help.
[Harlow:] Let me ask you one more question very quickly before I let you go. The statistics that came out in December report shows that the number of police officers across this country shot in the line of duty increased more than 50 percent in 2014. The officers you know in Los Angeles, in Missouri, across this country, are they scared?
[Klinger:] No, they're not scared. They understand that it's a dangerous job when they took it on but they're concerned. They're concerned about the heightened rhetoric. They're concerned about people marching through the streets of New York, for example, saying what do we want? We want dead caps. This is bad stuff that needs to be condemned roundly by everybody. And not just in the wake of a situation officers are shot. People need to be proactively condemning these fools.
[Harlow:] David Klinger, good to have you on the program. Thank you for being with me, sir.
[Klinger:] Thank you for having me.
[Harlow:] Well, part of the investigation in Ferguson involves figuring out what kind of weapon was used in the shooting. Officers report seeing muzzle flashes about 125 yards away. Our Gary Tuchman went to a shooting range to find out how feasible would it really be for a rightful or a pistol to be that accurate at that distance.
[Gary Tuchman, Cnn National Correspondent:] At the advance bullets of door gun range in Temple, Georgia, we come to find out about long distance weapon firing and accuracy for rifles and pistol at 145 yards. The distance police in Missouri believe a bullet traveled to wound two police officers.
[Unidentified Male:] his ammunition is 308.
[Tuchman:] A 308 caliber. This rifle is a Remington 700, a traditional deer hunting rifle. The target is about 100 yards away, about the same presumed range as the Ferguson gunshots. For a short lesson, I take a shot. Against my shoulder and here we go. I think that's a good shot. Indeed the bullet hits the target first try, a direct hit. Same results with the second shot. So there's no question such a rifle is capable of the shootings in Missouri. What about a pistol? Not as high powered and designed for closer range. This is a glock nine millimeters.
[Unidentified Male:] Typically we don't shoot handguns past 10-meters.
[Tuchman:] Which is about 11 yards. But our instructor Rick Ashworth will aim for the range's farthest target. This is 110 yards with a pistol. The bullet barely misses the target. The pistol doesn't have a scope and isn't as accurate as the rifle. It certainly would have hit somebody standing in a group at that distance. There's no question someone up to a no good who has a pistol can fire it and had go 125 yards.
[Rick Ashworth, Instructor:] Yes. The bullet would go that far.
[Tuchman:] How far could the bullet go? It could go much farther?
[Ashworth:] It could go a lot much further. It could go 200, 300. But as strong as that bullet, strong are drop after a certain distance.
[Tuchman:] And for that reason the pistol is to be slightly tilted up to hit the intended target at that distance. There's also the possibility that in Ferguson, someone could have taken a wild shot simply in the direction of the officers not intending to hit them, just hoping to scare them through the crowd. And that would be a bad idea. Someone nearly everyone in Ferguson, Missouri would agree with. Gary Tuchman, CNN Temple, Georgia.
[Harlow:] Gary, thank you for that report. Coming up machine gun America. That is what it's called. It is a theme park for gun lovers. Even children are allowed. We'll talk about that next. Also, why terrorists are targeting Minneapolis, Minnesota trying to recruit fighters there. But before that, two months into the fit nation challenge, out Dr. Sanjay Gupta checks in on a married couple trying to get in shape together.
[Doctor Sanjay Gupta, Cnn Chief Medical Correspondent:] How important is this to do together?
[Unidentified Female:] You know, accountability is huge. And I feel like we would hold each other accountable. We have the same goals. Like, if you don't want to work out one day but I do, let me help motivate you. Is this going to be more supporting each other or this is going to be some friendly competition?
[Unidentified Male:] I'm a little better
[Unidentified Female:] He is awesome.
[Unidentified Male:] You know I think I really just want to support each other. I just want to make it fun for both of us and help one another.
[Gupta:] Your husband. What you most concerned about?
[Unidentified Female:] For us to stay on track to make sure we stick with it. I think having that team support and knowing four other members are doing it with us, too. That's a pretty cool thing.
[Gupta:] Any doubt tight now that she is have any difficulty crossing the finish line?
[Unidentified Male:] Well, you know, concern because she had a little back surgery last year, a disc bulge. Ad you know, she was delivering babies all the time. And it is not easy. And I was a little concern but she has the strongest work ethic I have ever seen. So I don't doubt she'll finish. We may have challenges but there's no one that can outwork her. I'm excited. I know she'll finish.
[Gupta:] We'll cross the finish line together.
[Unidentified Female:] That sounds good!