CNN anchor Erin Burnett is facing criticism over her on-air comments during live coverage of the Park Avenue mass shooting in Manhattan, where she described the gunman as “possibly white,” despite earlier police reports suggesting he may have been of Middle Eastern descent.
During the network’s broadcast, Burnett told viewers that police had a description of the suspect: “sunglasses, mustache, male, possibly white.” The shooter was later identified as Shane D. Tamura. Surveillance images had shown him approaching the building armed with an AR-15-style rifle and wearing sunglasses.
Burnett’s remarks quickly drew backlash on social media, particularly on X (formerly Twitter), where many users accused CNN of rushing to assumptions based on race.
One user posted:
“Erin Burnett looked at footage of Park Avenue shooter Shane Tamura and declared him ‘possibly white’ on air. The video clearly showed a man with dark hair and complexion. Initial police reports said ‘possibly Middle Eastern.’ CNN’s rush to fit a narrative over facts continues.”
Another wrote:
“@CNN, the so-called ‘Most Trusted Name in News,’ told us the NYC shooter was white. Turns out, that’s not what police said. Classic fake news.”
A third user questioned mainstream media more broadly, writing:
“Why can’t the media just report facts? The evidence was right in front of them.”
Who is Erin Burnett?
Erin Burnett hosts Erin Burnett OutFront on CNN and has been with the network since 2011. Before joining CNN, she worked at CNBC where she co-anchored Squawk on the Street and hosted Street Signs.
Burnett has a long track record of reporting from the Middle East, having filed stories from countries including Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Israel, Lebanon, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey, among others.
Born in Mardela Springs, Maryland, Burnett graduated from Williams College with a degree in political economy. She began her professional career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs before moving into journalism.
