plus, buckle up. gas prices hitting a hideous high, but it s the prediction for the next ten days that may be even scarier. and a jury finds both johnny depp and amber heard liable for defamation, though let s be honest. depp won this trial. the significance of it all, beyond the gossip, spectacle, and social media snark. welcome to the lead. i m jake tapper. we start with our national lead and no clear answer in uvalde, texas, as to whether the chief who told cops to not storm the classroom where the shooter was during the massacre is actually cooperating with investigators. cnn s shimon prokupecz caught up with the police chief pete arredondo this morning. he insisted he s been in contact with the texas department of public safety every day, he says, but just last night, dps officials said arredondo had not responded to the request for a follow-up interview about his actions or lack thereof during last tuesday s massacre. today, uvalde is saying its final good-byes
adding, quote, fuel to the fire. this as russian forces have gained ground in eastern ukraine, leaving a key city on the brink. we want to welcome our viewers here in the united states and around the world. i m wolf blitzer. you re in the situation room. for the first time in a week, we re now hearing from the man who led the widely criticized police response to the texas school massacre. cnn confronting the uvalde school district police chief and pressing hip about his decision not to immediately engage the gunman. listen to cnn s exclusive one-on-one with that police chief, pete arredondo. i want to talk to you about just to let you know, i spoke with them. i know you did. just so you know, obviously, we re not going to release anything. we have people in our community being buried. so we re going to be respectful. i just want your reaction to the direction that you were responsible for the decision to go into that room. how do you explain yourself to pare
Evening thanks for joining us. Im amma. Im dan. Investigators found more than 40 illegal and guns and rocket launchers along with two stills from a than could cord business with the same man accused of brewing illegal rum and whiskey. Melanie spoke to agents about the major bust. Several months in the may going. Reporter California Department of alcoholic bench control seized more than 40 illegal and unregistered this is out of the norm. Reporter agents conducted an undercover investigation beginning in concord after receiving a complaint 53yearold sterling hart well albert was making and selling rum and whiskey illegally. Neighbors of the concord business say they saw agents move in. A lot of commotion. Reporter they seized7c two illegal still along with more than 200 gallon of illegal distilled spirits and more than 500 cases of illegally proud wine. Agents arrested albert here. Illegal stills are potentially explosive. They seem to be very affable neighbor. Reporter they seized more
Music festival, it was the worst news possible. Thats what everyone is worrying about. Reporter friends say she liked to wander off by herself and investigators say the road where her body was found lies between the Horizon Hotel where she was stay iing and the conce venue. At this time in their investigation they do not see any outward signs of trauma. Reporter the Sheriffs Department says its likely she was among the many concert goers who decided to walk back from the concert. Because the line for the shuttle buses was too long. That seems a contradictive statement from a friend who investigators say was the list to see her alive. Alex said he ran into her at the hotel after mnight new years day and that she was intoxicated or under the influence of some kind of drug. Investigators now say alex was probably mistaken, but they havent complete ly discounted his story. Its possible that she goes to the casino, returns to the event and comes back. Those are all theories well look into.