Man shoots himself in head on live TV after car chase near Phoenix

By: Julia Dahl
Topics: Daily Blotter

(CBS) PHOENIX - A carjacking suspect who led police on an hour-long high-speed chase in Arizona shot himself in the head in an incident that was broadcast on live television Friday afternoon.

Fox 10 reports that the man, driving a red Dodge Caliber, pulled off I-10 westbound and onto a dirt road in Salome, Ariz. He exited the vehicle, ran, and then raised a gun to his head.

The shooting was aired live on the Fox News Channel.

Minutes later anchor Shepard Smith told viewers that the video was supposed to be on a delay, and apologized to the audience: "We really messed up. We're all very sorry. That didn't belong on TV. We took every precaution we knew how to take to keep that from being on TV. I personally apologize to you that happened."

Fox 10 reports that during the chase the car had reached speeds of more than 110 mph.

The website Buzzfeed has made the video of the chase and shooting available, and is drawing some criticism for doing so.

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by fairness2 September 29, 2012 10:57 PM EDT: The Obama administration has doubled down on its plea to defense contractors not to warn employees about possible layoffs due to looming budget cuts -- going so far as to offer to cover legal fees in compensation challenges.

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2012/09/29/admin-to-pay-legal-fees-for-contractors-that-dont-issue-sequestration-warnings/#ixzz27uvwUmDE; Reply to this comment

by FACEITT September 29, 2012 6:25 PM EDT

Yeah, Fox is about as sorry as a real fox dining in the hen house! Delay mishap my foot, they just don't want to be fined by the FCC is all that apology is about. They are still the lowest form of media in the world. Rotten to the Core.

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by ozwizard111 September 29, 2012 8:20 PM EDT: FACEITT --Spoken like the true moron we all know you are.


by Swindled53 September 29, 2012 6:15 PM EDT: What is the deal with labeling people, tossing them into a supposed political party because they chose (or didn't choose) to act a certain way? I don't get it. How does a person become associated with a political party (Republican, Democrat, Conservative or Liberal) simply because they want to view a video? I've noticed it more & more lately. I watch a video, read some comments & am amazed when the other viewers slap a label on the character in the video (or about the other viewers) over the most foolish of situations. We make assumptions,jump to conclusions & decide to label others over their choices, opinions, everything! It's become pathetic. Not just this video but just about any. Example: Fox News, if you watch it you must be a ____. The newscaster or reporter who is just doing their job. They must be a ____(fill in the blank with R,D,C,L,etc) Anyone who wants to see the entire video must be a ____(R,D,C,L) If your for or against the video being shown, you must be a ___ (R,D,C,L) etc. On & on & the same goes with peoples religions. It's never ending. I remember growing up being told that at a party you should be polite, not start conversations about religion or politics. What a joke that turned out to be. Just go online & see complete strangers shred each other apart over their opinions. It's really sad, how hateful a society we've become...; Reply to this comment


by SoCal_Gridlock September 29, 2012 5:02 PM EDT: This suicide video sponsored by the new Google tablet. Get one today.; Reply to this comment


by BetaRayThor September 29, 2012 3:01 PM EDT: Who are we kidding here, people? There is a reason that helicopters follow car chases, fires, and car crashes with live cameras. Its the same reason COPS has been on TV for well over 20 years, Honey Doo Doo is now a big TV hit, and rubberneckers slow traffic on the opposite side of a wreck. Americans don't get up for a beer during a fight in a hockey game or NASCAR wreck.This is EXACTLY what America wants. Sex, violence, and people making fools of themselves. We eat it up and ask for seconds. I wonder why local city council meetings don't have a bigger audience draw on TV.; Reply to this comment

by chatmandu7451 September 29, 2012 2:14 PM EDT

I see there are a bunch of liberal/progressives commenting on this site about how bad Fox News is for covering this live car chase. Did they forget about the OJ chase? Fox News acknowledged their mistake and apologized, but the liberal/progressives never forgive a conservative. Another double standard from the liberal/progressive side.

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by iAceMadman September 29, 2012 5:18 PM EDT: Thoughts from Timbuktu?


by -sharky September 29, 2012 12:30 PM EDT: Just another confirmation that: Fox is to journalism as shlt is to food.; Reply to this comment


by burtwoody September 29, 2012 10:32 AM EDT: Just another Republican gone crazy!; Reply to this comment


by bjlaskey September 29, 2012 9:43 AM EDT: I dont believe a word of it. Fox is always the sensationalist news channel. It was their best case scenario in my opinion.; Reply to this comment