No, Fox News, Baltimore Police Did Not Just Shoot A Black Man
In a strange and disturbing story this afternoon, the Baltimore Police and Fox News report cops shot a Black man, but the Police later state those reports are untrue, and Fox has retracted the claim.
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In a strange and disturbing series of events still going on now, the Baltimore Police at 2:26 PM tweeted there was a shooting:
Fox News reported it was “unclear what prompted the shooting. A Fox News crew witnessed a young black male running from police before he was shot.”
On air – video below – Fox News reported “apparently… this young man, he was running away, and an officer shot him.”
Fox News reporter Mike Tobin, as Talking Points Memo reports, “described seeing the man run ‘right in front of us’ and that he never saw the man turn.”
“I was getting ready to do a live shot for my shift … I was sitting in the car, scribbling on my notes for the next live shot, and he ran right in front of us,” Tobin said. “I never saw the individual turn and do anything I would consider an aggressive act, but we did see the officer draw his weapon and I counted one gunshot.”
Tobin also mentioned he “clearly saw a revolver on the sidewalk” after the shooting.
Now the Baltimore Police are stating there was no shooting:
UPDATE: The reports of a shooting at North Ave/ Pennsylvania Ave are unfounded. Officers have arrested a man with a gun.
— Baltimore Police (@BaltimorePolice) May 4, 2015
And Talking Points Memo adds, “Fox in full retraction mode now. Wow, this was just an epic failure. Shep Smith is prostrating himself before viewers with a full-on apology for the mistaken reporting.”Â
Right now on MSNBC’s Joy Reid says people “are very angry” and a protest has broken out.
Here’s video of Fox News’ report, including footage of a man being put into an ambulance:
So, bottom line, it appears Fox News incorrectly reported witnessing a police shooting in Baltimore that did not happen.
People on Twitter are furious, as the report has left Baltimore locals upset and confused:
Fox News: How about you confirm breaking reports…especially out of Baltimore…ESPECIALLY if it involves a cop “shooting” an African-American?
— T. Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) May 4, 2015
With tensions already high in #Baltimore, spreading misinformation regarding another shooting is inflammatory and incites more violence.
— Wes (@nobfhere) May 4, 2015
Everyone of course mocking Fox for reporting Baltimore shooting that didn’t happen. But local woman near tears; she & reporter on scene 1/2
— Michelle N. Meyer (@MichelleNMeyer) May 4, 2015
both firmly believed they saw something they (apparently) didn’t b/c of power of expectatns. Live ex of fragility of eyewitness testmony 2/2
— Michelle N. Meyer (@MichelleNMeyer) May 4, 2015
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Image: Screenshot via TPMTV/YouTubeÂ
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