CNN anchor Erin Burnett calls NYC shooter 'possibly white': What is the controversy over the remark?

CNN anchor Erin Burnett is facing backlash online after referring to the NYC mass shooter Shane Tamura as “possibly white” during an early news broadcast. The comment came just hours after Tamura’s deadly assault at a Midtown Manhattan skyscraper that left four people dead — including an NYPD officer — and several others injured. Critics have accused Burnett of making premature racial assumptions based on unclear surveillance footage, while others argue that the focus on race is misplaced in such a tragedy. CNN has yet to issue a formal statement in response to the criticism.


What did CNN anchor Erin Burnett say?
During a live CNN segment on Monday evening, Erin Burnett reported that police had described the shooter as having “sunglasses, mustache, male, possibly white,” based on initial surveillance images. The images showed 27-year-old Shane Tamura, dressed in a suit and carrying an AR-15-style rifle as he entered 345 Park Avenue, the building that houses offices for Blackstone and the NFL.


The shooter’s background as per reports
While early descriptions included the possibility that Tamura was white, images released shortly after the shooting led many viewers to suggest otherwise. Some noted that Tamura appeared to have a darker or ethnically ambiguous complexion. In fact, early NYPD communications reportedly considered the possibility that the gunman might be of Middle Eastern descent. A mugshot released later confirmed Tamura’s identity, but his precise ethnic background remains publicly unspecified.





Online reactions and backlash
Burnett’s comment drew swift criticism on social media platforms, where users accused her of jumping to racial conclusions without sufficient evidence. “He may be a bunch of different things, basically anything BUT white,” one viral comment said. Others took broader aim at CNN’s credibility, with posts like “CNN should be shut down. They have not reported a truthful story in what seems like forever.” Some commenters pushed back against the outrage, arguing that focusing on the shooter’s race was irrelevant compared to the actual tragedy.


What happened during the shooting?
According to NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch, the shooting began around 6:28 p.m. when Tamura exited a black BMW and entered the skyscraper lobby with his rifle. He immediately shot and killed Officer Didarul Islam, 36, before fatally shooting three civilians — a woman, a security guard, and an employee on the 33rd floor. One more person was critically injured. Tamura later turned the gun on himself, ending the rampage.


The broader media debate
The controversy has reignited debates about how the media handles race, especially in high-profile violent incidents. Critics argue that race-based assumptions — whether intentional or accidental — can fuel misinformation or reinforce biases. Supporters of Burnett have pointed out that she was quoting early police descriptions and reporting in real-time based on limited information.

While the full details about Tamura's identity and motives are still coming to light, the strong reaction to Erin Burnett’s comment underscores just how sensitive and divisive racial assumptions in media can be—especially in the immediate aftermath of a tragedy. Jumping to conclusions based on appearance or early footage often does more harm than good, fueling public mistrust and controversy. Whether CNN chooses to clarify Burnett’s remark or stand by it, the incident has reignited broader questions about how news outlets handle race and responsibility in breaking news coverage.