Cable News Is Going Nuts Rummaging Around Inside the San Bernardino Shooters' Apartment
[There was a video here]
Today the owner of the apartment complex in which the alleged San Bernardino shooters lived allowed several media outlets to tour (and inspect the contents of) their apartment. As you can see in the incredibly awkward clip above, MSNBC decided to broadcast one of their reporters rifling through Syed Rizwan Farook and Tashfeen Malik’s belongings, including books, random family photos, and various personal documents.
MSNBC reported that the FBI cleared all evidence from the apartment before reporters got inside, but Grasswire reports the San Bernardino Sheriff’s spokesperson has disputed that claim.
San Bernardino Sheriff's spokesperson to Grasswire on reporters entering apartment: "That is not a cleared crime scene."
— Grasswire Now (@GrasswireNow) December 4, 2015
A spokesperson for the Sheriff told Gawker that the Sheriff has released the crime scene to the FBI. We have contacted an FBI spokesperson for comment and will update if and when we hear back.
Many personal belongings of the alleged shooters were left in the apartment for MSNBC to sift through and broadcast live, with no redactions. The broadcast showed everything from photos of unidentified children to baby items to IDs and social security cards.
MSNBC just doxed Rafia Farook, mother of a terrorist, on live television. I've blurred the important bits. pic.twitter.com/VqPwT60yVY
— David Boles (@DavidBoles) December 4, 2015
“We have quite a number of photographs here, but we don’t know, we don’t know if it’s [the shooter],” the reporter, Kerry Sanders, said at one point, rifling through family photos on-camera as anchor Andrea Mitchell commented uncomfortably on the extremely personal items from inside the studio.
MSNBC basically filming storage wars with the shooters apt. WATTBA
— Desus Nice (@desusnice) December 4, 2015
CNN also broadcast live from the apartment, showing children’s toys and other personal items.
[There was a video here]
CNN’s own law enforcement analyst did not think that was appropriate.
CNN's law enforcement analyst appears shocked by what CNN's reporters (and other reporters) are doing.
— Nick Confessore (@nickconfessore) December 4, 2015
Later on CNN, a man was seen exiting the apartment with an orange item. He has since identified himself on Twitter as The Sunday Times’ Toby Harnden.
This is me. It's a screwdriver, not a popsicle. I was helping landlord, who was right beside me, take off the board. https://t.co/DpL0BHYbQn
— Toby Harnden (@tobyharnden) December 4, 2015
[There was a video here]
Another woman was seen taking her child into the crime scene.
[There was a video here]
And now there’s a dog.
CNN saying now that "not solely members of the media" now roaming the apartment, including a "woman with a dog"
— John Koblin (@koblin) December 4, 2015
Fox News, also at the scene, has had some technical difficulties.
And here’s an update on the landlord who let the media in in the first place.
CNN reporters outside San Bernardino killers' home says landlord was escorted away by law enforcement, put into unmarked vehicle
— Jon Passantino (@passantino) December 4, 2015
In a statement after its broadcast from the scene, MSNBC said it regrets showing images of IDs and photos.
Here's MSNBC's statement: "We regret" showing live images of IDs and photographs pic.twitter.com/eoIsiAnURr
— John Koblin (@koblin) December 4, 2015
