Did CNN Get It Wrong? Pushback Grows Over Manhattan Shooting Suspect Called 'Possibly White'

CNN has faced intense backlash after its anchor Erin Burnett and analyst John Miller described the suspect in a deadly Manhattan shooting as 'possibly white', a claim quickly disproven by surveillance footage and the suspect's identification as Shane Tamura, a 27-year-old Las Vegas resident.

The 28 July 2025 attack at 345 Park Avenue, which killed four people, including an NYPD officer, has sparked a social media firestorm accusing CNN of racial bias in its reporting.

As criticism mounts, what went wrong, and why does it matter?

The Shooting and CNN's Misstep

On 28 July 2025, Shane Tamura opened fire in a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper housing the NFL headquarters, killing NYPD officer Didarul Islam and three civilians before taking his own life, per the Fox News.

During live coverage on Erin Burnett OutFront, Burnett asked Miller if police had any leads on the suspect. 'They do not know who he is. They know he is a male, possibly white,' Miller replied, citing early police descriptions of a man with sunglasses and a mustache.

Burnett repeated the 'possibly white' claim, despite a surveillance photo already circulating, showing Tamura, who is not white, carrying an AR-15.

'Disgusting, obviously trying to counter the Cincinnati attacks on white people in the Jazz festival. CNN are dangerously round the far left bend.' posted @RockySarni8180 on X.

Fox News identified Tamura within an hour, intensifying the backlash.

Why the Claim Sparked Outrage

Critics, including The Blaze and Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk, slammed CNN for pushing a racial narrative. 'When a criminal suspect is black or brown, why does the mainstream media either refuse to report their ethnicity or wrongly report they're "possibly white"?' Kirk questioned, per Mediaite.

Social media erupted, with @WeDidItOnce posting, 'It's rampant gaslighting. CNN, even with images immediately released, repeatedly said the suspect was possibly a white man.'

The controversy grew after reports that early NYPD descriptions suggested the suspect might be Middle Eastern, contradicting CNN's claim, per the Times of India.

A CNN spokesperson clarified to AFP that chyrons labeling Tamura as a 'white male' were fake, but the on-air remarks by Burnett and Miller fueled accusations of media bias.

The incident, which caused £76 million ($101 million) in damages to the Park Avenue building, has reignited debates over how race is reported in breaking news.

Broader Implications for Trust in Media

The CNN controversy underscores growing distrust in media, with CNN's primetime viewership dropping to 538,000 in Q2 2025, per the Nielsen.

Tamura's note, citing grievances against the NFL and chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), shifted focus to mental health, but CNN's error overshadowed this narrative.

'In moment of chaos, words from trusted anchors like Burnett carry weight beyond the screen. One misstep can blur truth, reopen wounds, and deepen divides' noted the Times of India, highlighting how missteps deepen public divides.

'Shane Tamura, a standout running back who graduated in 2016, was identified as the NYC shooter. The NFL headquarters, located in the targeted building, may have been a motive for the attack. "Possibly white" shooter according to CNN.,' as per @DigitalGal_X.

As investigations continue, with NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch confirming Tamura's mental health history, the focus remains on whether CNN will address its reporting error to rebuild credibility.