Outrage over CNN reporter's claim on semi-automatic guns after school shooting

CNN Reporter Faces Criticism for Inaccurate Statement on Minneapolis School Shooting

CNN Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez faced backlash on Tuesday for wrongly claiming that semi-automatic guns can fire multiple bullets with one trigger pull during coverage of the Minneapolis school shooting, which resulted in the deaths of two children.

Perez made the incorrect statement on The Situation Room, despite the fact that semi-automatic weapons only shoot one bullet per trigger pull, unlike automatic weapons.

During the broadcast, Perez responded to initial reports of prolonged gunfire by suggesting that shooters can fire multiple bullets in one trigger pull, a statement that was criticized as politicizing the tragic event.

The shooting at Annunciation Catholic School, carried out by 23-year-old suspect Robin Westman during a start-of-year mass, resulted in the deaths of two children aged 8 and 10, with at least 17 others injured. The motive behind the shooting is still under investigation.

Westman, armed with a rifle, shotgun, and pistol, took his own life as police arrived at the scene, causing chaos by shooting through the church's windows around 8:30 am.

Critics, including former Ted Cruz communications advisor Steve Guest, pointed out the inaccuracies in Perez's statements, emphasizing that false information during breaking news is harmful.

Hennepin Healthcare, the main trauma hospital in Minneapolis, treated 10 patients following the shooting, including eight children aged 6 to 14, with seven in critical condition.

Law enforcement has confirmed the identity of the shooter as Robin Westman, whose motives remain unknown. The investigation into the incident is ongoing.

Perez, a former Wall Street Journal reporter who joined CNN in 2013, covers Department of Justice and national security issues. Daily Mail has contacted CNN for a response to the criticism.