CNN anchor Erin Burnett is under fire after describing the gunman involved in a deadly shooting spree in Midtown Manhattan as “possibly white” despite evidence to the contrary.
On Monday night, Burnett angered viewers during a live broadcast when she and her co-anchor discussed surveillance footage showing the shooter, later identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, holding a rifle.
Burnett’s initial comment, which was made in reference to Tamura’s appearance, included a description of him as a “possibly white” male with sunglasses and a mustache.
This assessment was supposedly based on the first images that emerged of the gunman.
However, those images, which were obtained from the surveillance footage, clearly showed Tamura with a darker complexion that conflicts with Burnett’s description.
Nevertheless, Burnett and her colleagues continued to repeatedly push the false narrative.
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As the footage circulated widely on social media, many users pointed out the discrepancy.
Many are calling out Burnett’s premature and incorrect racial assessment.
While some dismissed the gunman’s race as irrelevant, others felt Burnett’s rush to judgment was irresponsible, especially given the ongoing investigation.
The incident unfolded late Monday night when Tamura, from Nevada, went on a violent rampage at the 345 Park Avenue skyscraper in Manhattan.
He killed four people before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities believe Tamura may have had a specific grievance with the National Football League (NFL).
The NFL has offices in the building.
The shooter was found with a letter that appeared to explain his motivations, including an attack on the NFL’s handling of chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).
CTE is a brain condition linked to repeated head trauma in football players.
In the note, Tamura referenced former Pittsburgh Steeler Terry Long, who took his own life in 2006 by drinking antifreeze, allegedly as a result of suffering from CTE.
“Terry Long football gave me CTE, and it caused me to drink a gallon of antifreeze,” the letter read, further detailing his anger towards the NFL.
“You can’t go against the NFL, they’ll squash you,” he wrote.
The shooting spree began in the building’s lobby.
Tamura killed three people, including NYPD officer Didarul Islam, a 36-year-old father of two.
He also shot a second unnamed security guard and an unidentified woman.
Tamura then rode an elevator to the 33rd floor of the building, where he fatally shot his fourth victim.
He ended the massacre by taking his own life.
While the violent attack is still being investigated, Burnett’s comment about the gunman’s race has raised serious questions about media practices and responsibility in reporting breaking news.
Critics argue that such premature and inaccurate assessments contribute to further confusion and misrepresentation, especially during an ongoing investigation.
As many noted, the corporate media often withholds the race of a shooter when the gunman is not white, but rushes to promote racist narratives when it’s convenient.
Burnett’s error highlights a growing concern about media outlets rushing to judgment and offering biased or incomplete reports without fully understanding the facts.
In an era where accuracy and accountability are critical, such missteps risk eroding public trust in news organizations.
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