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Fox News Apologizes for Misreported Baltimore Police Shooting: ‘We Screwed Up’

Report that young, black male had been shot ”multiple times by police“ was quickly contradicted by BPD

| May 4, 2015 @ 4:28 PM

Fox News anchor Shepard Smith apologized to viewers on Monday for an erroneous report by the network of a shooting by Baltimore police.

Fox News reporter Mike Tobin reported firsthand that at approximately 2.45 ET “a guy running from the cops” at an intersection he characterized as the epicenter of recent unrest in the wake of the death of Freddie Gray was shot by an officer.

“As he was running away, that officer drew his weapon and fired and struck the individual who was running away,” Tobin said. “It was a young, black male, and [from] what we saw on the sidewalk, as the crime scene unfolded there, there was a revolver laying on the ground.”

Also Read: Baltimore Unrest: Will the Media Keep Its Word on Having a 'Conversation' About Race?

However, the Baltimore Police Department tweeted around 45 minutes after the reported incident that “reports of a man being shot at North and Pennsylvania Ave are NOT true. Officers have arrested a man for a handgun at the location.”

Tobin claimed to have witnessed the incident personally at the time. “He ran right in front of us. 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.”

Moments later, however, Fox News reporter Leland Vittert solicited a statement from a Baltimore Police officer who refuted Tobin’s account. Evidently a man was arrested for possessing a handgun, which discharged when he dropped it.

Also Read: Baltimore State's Attorney Marilyn Mosby Sets Twitter Ablaze After Charges in Freddie Gray Death

Smith immediately took over the broadcast in studio to acknowledge the error, saying, “Sounds like what happened is… we screwed up … Mike Tobin thought he saw somebody get shot. And there was a gun, and there was a patient on a stretcher … and what we have is nothing.”

See Smith’s apology below, followed by Tobin’s original report.

The Scene in Baltimore Following Freddie Gray's Death (Photos)

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  • Caption:BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Demonstrators climb on a destroyed Baltimore Police car in the street near the corner of Pennsylvania and North avenues during violent protests following the funeral of Freddie Gray April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Gray, 25, who was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Homes housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Getty Images
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  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 27: Two cars burn in the middle of an intersection at New Shiloh Baptist Church on April 27, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Riots have erupted in Baltimore following the funeral service for Freddie Gray, who died last week while in Baltimore Police custody. (Photo by Andrew Burton/Getty Images) Getty Images
  • BALTIMORE, MD - APRIL 28: Protestors defy curfew in front of police officers the night after citywide riots over the death of Freddie Gray on April 28, 2015 in Baltimore, Maryland. Freddie Gray, 25, was arrested for possessing a switch blade knife April 12 outside the Gilmor Houses housing project on Baltimore's west side. According to his attorney, Gray died a week later in the hospital from a severe spinal cord injury he received while in police custody. (Photo by Mark Makela/Getty Images) Getty Images
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Violent protests took over the city as thousands demonstrated after the 25-year-old man died in police custody on Apr. 19

Freddie Gray suffered catastrophic injuries after he was arrested on Apr. 12 for running from Baltimore police. He slipped into a coma and died on Apr. 19.

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