U.S. carjacking suspect shoots himself in head... live on TV

Fox probably did it on purpose. Its all about the rating for american news. They fight just as hard as sitcoms to keep going. The producer probably decided to let it roll without letting the anchor know so they could get a real reaction.

I watched this live on TV and on the KSAZ-TV stream(which was not broadcasting on KSAZ-TV live, just online) and I can tell you that I was horrified but I am sure Fox News did not do this on purpose. I am a huge critic of them but based off how much I know Shep and seeing his body language, I can tell you this was not what he wanted. I heard the background staff who were just as horrified. This was a tragic incident that unfolded live around the country and oddly, in a few nations on TV. I can't believe I watched something so horrible but this is live TV. This is Journalism. It's not about only broadcasting "the good things" but all things. Good or bad. Kudos to Shep for remaining professional on camera and let's not think about the crap he yelled off camera out of anger.

This is Fox News - a tentacle of Murdoch. His organisation was involved in hacking the phone of a dead girl and printing foul lies about football fans who died due to police blunders. Al Tompkins is right but don't expect morality from those in the gutter.

Jimizo:

" This is Fox News - a tentacle of Murdoch "

Nonsense. I just saw the apology, and it was sincere.

"I just saw the apology, and it was sincere."

Heh, there's as much chance of sincerity from the FOX "news" channel as there is of you hugging a Muslim today...

@WilliB How is describing Fox News as a tentacle of Murdoch nonsense? One of Murdoch's particularly unpleasant publications, 'The Sun' ( his other UK tabloid 'The News of the World' was closed down due to a phone hacking scandal - see above ), recently had to give a grovelling apology for printing obscene lies about football fans who died in a disaster. Murdoch is amoral, and his whole despicable empire will sink to any level.

another Fox FAIL

My guess, FAUX news knew EXACTLY what would happen, car jacking, usually some crazy nut on drugs, very desperate individual, sure get LIVE, pretend that you are actually SURPRISED that such a nasty thing happened, but DO ANY THING FOR RATINGS!!!! Right??

“And yet this happens time and again and has for more than a decade and a half,” he said. “Each time, TV stations apologize while enjoying a temporary ratings bump.” This guy seems to have taken the word right out of my mouth!!

While obviously this wudnt be pleasant to watch, maybe it will knock some sense into the US, the amount of gunplay, death, destruction is a multiple daily occurance there, while I like the US & its people, its gun culture is so far out of control you cant really describe it.

Wudnt it be nice if this incident made people realize that all those hand guns, automatic rifles, AK47s etc etc just arent necessary, clearly they are mostly a major detriment to US society.

I aint no prude as far as guns are concerned I grew up with some rifle shooting, just target shooting but know many including my brother who hunt some, but we have almost none of the insanity that pervades the US.

Sad to be sure, but it wud be nice if the US cud finally turn things around, not I dont advocate banning all fire arms but clearly the US is in dire need of common sense as far as firearms are concerned.

So will this help, not likely, & we will see(maybe not so directly) this palyed out over & over & over & over with no end in sight

I think people are focusing too much on FOX "news" and not at the pretty deranged actions of the dude.

I mean seriously, WTF?

"with the 1994 pursuit of disgraced football star and actor O.J. Simpson in Los Angeles a classic of the genre."

That is not a classic anyway. He hardly broke the speed limit.

"I just saw the apology, and it was sincere."

Heh, there's as much chance of sincerity from the FOX "news" channel as there is of you hugging a Muslim today...

Ha ha ha ha! Loved it.

I think people are focusing too much on FOX "news" and not at the pretty deranged actions of the dude

@ Madverts: Amen to that! We are forgetting that this guy carjacked someone at gunpoint. What if that were a person with a heart condition who went into a heart attack, or heaven forbid a person who didn't have any insurance on the car and this bozo goes and steals it and screws it up and that person is left with probably a damaged and useless car.

Too many times in the US we seem to have sympathy for the criminal and none for the victim. Though I don't condone suicide, and do think that there is too much violence on TV, in a way I am glad this got shown. Maybe it would just show someone that when you do stupid stuff like steal anothers car at gunpoint, you may get the clarity at some point that you have just screwed yourself over, and that your actions have consequences. I imagine that this guy probably knew that he was going to be facing a long sentence with probably prior criminal history and just couldn't face the fact that he was going down.

I am well aware that there are other reasons related to mental health why people kill themselves, so don't post that I am insensitive. Just think that someone who wants to put others at danger because of their actions, doesn't deserve the sympathy the media and others try to give him.

And as far as Fox bashing goes, if we were to find out that this guy was a white, returning war vet, I imagine that it would be shown all over MSNBC.

I don't specifically blame Fox for this, it could have happened on any other network in the US. Who I blame is all the TV news outlets that now consider it normal to base journalistic standards on sensationalism, shock, and ratings. Live footage of a fleeing carjacker should never have passed as news worthy of the public's interest, or in the service of the public. Do people really need to see up-to-date images of street crimes?

A consequence of the sad state of journalism, and it's only going to get worse.

Whatever your opinion of the network Shepard appeared visibly shaken.

Shepard Smith is the ONLY credible newsman on Fox News, I believe his apology is sincere.

Good old FOX! They had five seconds to stop the feed and they did nothing. It's pretty clear to me that they did it on purpose for ratings.

Thank god they don't show live car chases on UK TV... the prospect of seeing someone die in a crash, or like this, is too horrible to contemplate. What we DO see are police chases where no serious injury occurs, and certainly no deaths. Where stories DO contain that, the video is stopped before the fatality happens.

This is just such a horrible thing for people to see. Disgusting.

plasticmonkey, " Live footage of a fleeing carjacker should never have passed as news worthy of the public's interest, or in the service of the public. Do people really need to see up-to-date images of street crimes?

A consequence of the sad state of journalism, and it's only going to get worse."

Totally agree. This happened to have happened on FOX, but it could have been any broadcaster.

If I recall correctly, in '94 during the slowest car chase in recorded history, OJ also had a gun. What if he had likewise turned it on himself?

Reality TV is sometimes too real.

Whatever your opinion of the network Shepard appeared visibly shaken.

Agreed, this is the video of him apologizing:

www.youtube.com/watch?v=FvfjXu1DDqA&feature=player_embedded

Good old FOX! They had five seconds to stop the feed and they did nothing. It's pretty clear to me that they did it on purpose for ratings.

Watch the video in the above link and tell me they did it on purpose. You're really full of it you know that.

Wudnt it be nice if this incident made people realize that all those hand guns, automatic rifles, AK47s etc etc just arent necessary, clearly they are mostly a major detriment to US society.

I'm failing to see how a suicide would do that? Lets say the person used a hatchet or a chainsaw on themselves how would that make people realize that owning a hatchet or a chainsaw is not necessary?

Military style rifles make up less than 1% of gun crime in the US so I don't see your point about ak-47's not being necessary. There are only 230,000 fully automatic rilfes out of 300 million legally owned firearms. I guess I don't see your point.

Sad to be sure, but it wud be nice if the US cud finally turn things around, not I dont advocate banning all fire arms but clearly the US is in dire need of common sense as far as firearms are concerned.

I'm not following you here, over 99.999% of gun owners don't harm anyone each year in the US, that seems like they have common sense.

How ironic. The usual practice is for FOX commentators to shoot themselves in the foot.

Look for more of "reality TV".

Amazing how everyone seemed to love the live coverage of the OJ Simpson chase, which could have turned ugly like this.

1st second - Wtf??!! 2nd second - OMG!! He just... No, that can't be right!! 3rd second - Holy!! He did!! 4th second - I'm gonna puke!! 5th second - Wait!! I've gotta do something!! Call 911?? Wait, not that! 6th second - Oh! Hit the "interrupt feed" button... 7th second - Dammit, too late!!

I can easily see how the person responsible for interrupting the feed could have been as shocked and surprised as Smith. It's easy to lay blame, but when you're the person in the situation watching something like that then it's only human to be shocked and unfocused.

Just increase the delay to 1 minute. It's not like "Live" TV is so important anyway.

Whatever 1 second, 2 minutes! Who need to see that? The bad, bad down side of the TV driven US!

I'm possibly the last person on the planet with anything positive to say about Fox News, but Shepard Smith's reaction to the suicide as it happened was one of genuine shock. I don't believe for a moment that Fox news somehow chose to let the suicide air. A 5-second delay isn't all that long, quite frankly, and I think technicians would be far more prepared and attuned to catching an f-bomb than a thoroughly unexpected suicide.

I feel for Shepard Smith and anyone else on duty at the studio when this happened. It's got to be a traumatic experience to suddenly see someone take their life while you watch -- remotely or otherwise.

The morbid folks that spread it all over the Internet? Not so much sympathy for them. More like disgust.

LFRRAgain: who need to see even the high speed chase?

Thousands of people shoot themselves in the head every day. Now that they've seen one on TV all of a sudden everyone loses their minds with outrage because they accidentally saw it.

Reality check for the plebeians:

1 - Grow a spine.

2 - Get your priorities straight.

"who need to see even the high speed chase?"

Why are you asking me?

"Guns Don't Kill People. FOX Kills People"

Oh, please. It wasn't that graphic. Thecamera shot was from far away and viewers couldn't even make out the handgun clearly. The guy pointed it to his head and then fell straight forward. There was no blood or other injury visible. It was so distant that the Phoenix newspaper had to write that the guy, "apparently shot himself ". Far more graphic assaults are regularly scene on TV and websites daily with no outcry. The most telling sign of the hypocrisy on this story is the critical articles that make sure to include the full video.

Suzu1,

Out of respect of the families of the dead most reasonable stations use a level of discretion when airing any material featuring death or other graphic images. Whether or not it lives up to your standards of what constitutes graphic is irrelevant.

TheQuestion - You are overlooking the fact that the broadcast of this individual's action was unintentional and live, so there was no opportunity for editorial discretion. If Fox kept replaying the incident you may have had a point, but they didn't and so you don't. And what level of discretion are other news outlets using when they run stories about how shocking the broadcast was and then make sure to have a video of the incident? And finally, my favorite Shepherd Smith mea culpa was on his famous Freudian slip while talking about Jennifer Lopez:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MzV8wrnLfS4

He is smooth.

You are overlooking the fact that the broadcast of this individual's action was unintentional and live, so there was no opportunity for editorial discretion.

There is a 5 second delay on live feeds to prevent this sort of thing. Shepard apologized for the networks mistake and took responsibility just as he should have. He recognized that the image shown was not appropriate for television and immediately took steps to get it off of the air.

What I take issue with is your statement undermining the graphic nature of the scene itself. I think Shepard's apology was appropriate.

And what level of discretion are other news outlets using when they run stories about how shocking the broadcast was and then make sure to have a video of the incident?

Fox and other news outlets frequently warn viewers that the images are graphic in nature and that anybody that would be upset by them should not watch. In this incident people who could be terribly upset by watching a suicide were not adequately warned, that was a mistake. Shepard apologized and he was right to do so.

I wanted to wait on this to see what people say before commenting and it always tickles me when in particular Progressive Liberals jump on FOX, I worked 12 years in the News industry and most of it was for NBC, there were a lot of nice people working there and for the most part the working atmosphere was decent, however, the majority of management would deliberately hire people that progressive thinking in their views. When Immelt took over things went from good to just downright ugly. All of a sudden having conservative views was almost a taboo thing, I can tell you story after story where the news was completely skewed in order to get a percentage of people to think a certain way. Ratings IS a puller for every network and especially in cable news and when it comes to politics. I know a lot and I mean a lot of people between the networks TV as well as print. Some of these guys we would go out and or mingle around at different events like SAG/AFTRA, Emmys etc. Some of these guys have egos that would make you want to throw up and to be honest most of the attitude or people with the A-hole type personalities came from msnbc in particular Keith Olbermann. I have never met a human being that was so much in love with himself and that is why the man is NOT on any major network anymore, thank the heavens! CNN most of the men and women were cool, there were a few also that were just horrible, they tried to be nice, but somehow, their selfishness just came through. PBS, NO comment, NPR seriously Liberal and very left slanted, but the majority of people are good hardworking people. Before I moved to Japan, I worked for a year with FOX, what I had always respected about how they run their operation, they are very selective as to who they hire and what you can bring to the network and I can say for a fact, they have all kinds of people working there, NOT ONLY Conservatives, that is a fact. I can also say that Shep ain't NO conservative, NOT by a long shot. There are many liberals there, a lot both in front and behind the camera and independent people. I liked the fact that everyone was allowed to give their opinions and viewpoints and not having to worry about being ridiculed or being sent to the closet room. Yes, there were a few people that I thought were a bit odd, but the majority, smart, clear thinking and honest people, I had the best time working with the people there and Roger Ailes is a decent guy. Some of you guys say, that FOX showed this flub on purpose, NOT true! When I was with NBC we had one time a high speed chase and in the HWY 10 a man by the name of Daniel Jones who was HIV positive had a beef with his healthcare and went on the freeway unfurling a banner that said "HMOs are in it for the money, Live Free, Love Safe, or Die" then the guy lit his truck on fire, the guy had a dog in there and it perished and Daniel accidentally got his shirt on fire and started to burn and half of his cloths. He tried to distinguish the fire and after that, we heard over our CB that the police were in route as they approached, the man shot himself in the head and that was covered on live TV, it was horrible, the networks had to do apologize and it was huge nightmare for the networks, so after that new rules were implemented that they have to fall back a bit and to be ready pull the camera back, just in case, while being on a 8 second delay. Believe me when I tell you ratings ARE important, but NO network wants to or would purposely alienate people by showing something like this. They all know the repercussions it could have. This was a mistake, a huge mistake, but a mistake, if some of you liberals think otherwise, then that means, you are know it alls, but I know for a fact that Shep is NOT a bomb thrower and that was just a total ****up! Should it happen, NO, can it happen, YES, was it deliberate, absolutely NOT. People believe what they WANT to believe in the end, for me, I was on the inside, so I know who's full of it and it's NOT Shep or FOX. This is a very ugly situation and they are in damage mode now, but the main thing is they they have acknowledged the problem, apologized and will try their best not to let this kind of tragedy happen again. Personally, I was shocked myself to see that, but definitely not something done on purpose.

bass, excellent post. Thanks for your balanced, experienced perspective. But you might get about 10 "bads".

" Ratings IS a puller for every network and especially in cable news and when it comes to politics." Ain't THAT the truth!

@Herve, Thanks. I already know the "bads" are a coming from the usual deniers crowd.

All you fox haters: sure you love the other networks, even the one that ran a phony story based on forged documents about a presidential candidate. But since that was attacking a Republican it was all right. It did get rid of Dan Rather, but they took a year to fire him!

"Far more graphic assaults are regularly scene on TV and websites daily with no outcry."

Graphic assults seen on TV are part of a fantasy dialogue. In other words, it's not real. Websites that feature graphic content usually aren't the type to enforce unacceptable content policies. Those sites that do will pull down the videos as soon as they are able, which is usually within hours. These sites as well as the vast majority of people who traffic them understand the difference between over-the-top make believe and someone genuinely killing his or herself on live TV.

It's more than a little disturbing that you can't seem to make these distinctions yourself.

"The most telling sign of the hypocrisy on this story is the critical articles that make sure to include the full video."

You mean video that has carefully blacked out the actual suicide, right? Leaving out that little tidbit certainly helps prop up your claims of hypocrisy. Except for the fact you're being selectively honest.

Thousands of people shoot themselves in the head every day. Now that they've seen one on TV all of a sudden everyone loses their minds with outrage because they accidentally saw it.

Actually back in 1987 well before there was a Fox News, there was a case of a PA local politician who had gottne caught in a bribery case, and as he held a news conference he pulled a gun out and shot himself in the head and killed himself. The broadcast of his suicide became a topic for educators in PA classrooms; it led to questions about the practice of airing live news broadcasts in public school settings, This issue was also raised following the explosion of the Space Shuttle Challenger and the Branch Davidian Siege in Waco, TX, events which were shown live in many classrooms.

So this is what happens when you rush to show live feeds. Events can be unpredictable, and things like this can happen.

@Bass, very refreshing and happy to hear your insider point of view, and I can feel empathy for you because here in Japan I also work in tv, live news etc..and we are always warned of WHAT NOT TO SAY etc...but maybe you are right, could be that Shep was set up by Fox and actually Shep was really surprised, but if I know how tv stations work, they need the ratings and if they can come up with an excuse and clean their hands clean of doing this on purpose, I am sure they will.

Bass4funk,

Can't stand half the stuff you post. ;-)

But that last post was spot on. Well said, sir.

@El

could be that Shep was set up by Fox and actually Shep was really surprised, but if I know how tv stations work, they need the ratings and if they can come up with an excuse and clean their hands clean of doing this on purpose, I am sure they will.

I highly seriously doubt it. There is no proof of that. As I said, the blame partially is on Shep for HOSTING the show as a news reporter, but he was NOT the one out there following the police on the high speed chase, the camera man on the chopper should have paid more attention in doing a "pull back" and making sure they were on a 8 second delay, that was the responsibility on the part of the production staff. Again, adrenaline is always high during a speed chase, it's great ratings, you want to get the best access and be on top and ahead of everyone else, but to purposely broadcast someone offing themselves on live TV, no one wants to see that, no one, so it wasn't a set up.

@LFR

I'm always happy to bring a little sweetness and sunshine to spark up peoples lives.

By the way talk about Objectivity. When the story of Obama came out 14 years ago when he admitted in believing in income redistribution back in 1998, all the networks aired it, except when it got to msnbc, they refused to air it, claiming the authenticity of the tape needs to be determined first. That was the second biggest news after Romney's 47% comment and this one from Obama was also huge, yet msnbc ran with Romney's comments, they didn't check or verify anything, but when Obama makes a tape elaborating as to what and how he thinks our social economic structure should be, it needs to be verified first. NOW that was a personal business network decision from the network, totally deliberate! Knowing full well that it would have knocked the Romney news that came out a few days earlier down some and would have made waves. But for a network that openly supports Obama and that almost never criticizes the President and the WH on the issue doing a complete lie and spin claiming that his comments were not a big thing essentially. It's really NO surprise.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv_reAhq2xg

I'm failing to see how a suicide would do that? Lets say the person used a hatchet or a chainsaw on themselves how would that make people realize that owning a hatchet or a chainsaw is not necessary?

Noliving,

Ya gotta admit hand guns make killing, whether its others or suicide MUCH EASIER, so in the US you get more killing pretty straight forward.

As for military type weapons, sorry its just daft to let the general population be able to own them, just look at all the killings at schools, restaurants workplaces etc to see the damage they can do.

As for the 99.9% comment, I wont even bother to check to see if that is accurate or not, its obvious US has gun problems, they are used so often that for people like you the killings are just "normal" I suppose, thankfully lots of other countries dont have the same problems as the US in this regard, I guess if you live in the US its just acceptable by enough of the population that it will NEVER change, like I said, sad!