Did CNN claim NYC shooter Shane Tamura was white? Viral post explored as network draws backlash

CNN anchor Erin Burnett is receiving backlash for referring to the suspect in Monday’s deadly NYC shooting as “possibly white” during an early broadcast, which has since been debunked following further information about the identity of the gunman.

The incident took place near 345 Park Avenue, where a total of four people died, including a NYPD officer. Burnett reported that the police were looking for a suspect with “sunglasses, mustache, male, possibly white.”

The description had been drawn from a grainy security footage that captured the hoodie-wearing attacker. But photos of the suspect were later identified as 27-year-old Shane Tamura, depicting a man with darker or mixed race complexion.

🚨UPDATE: The NYC Active shooter has reportedly been identified as Shane D. Tamura, a Las Vegas resident.



According to CNN, the active shooter in New York City is a "possibly white" male. Not white! Fake News CNN! #ActiveShooter pic.twitter.com/h4mgsiSOmQ

— AJ Huber (@Huberton) July 29, 2025

The discrepancy prompted swift pushback, as critics complained CNN was leaping to conclusions. According to the New York Post, initial reports from the police made it sound like the shooter might be of Middle Eastern descent, which only further stoked confusion.

The subtle difference in coloration sparked outrage among social media users, who noted that Tamura appeared anything but white. Others wondered why race was even mentioned at all.

Tamura, a former college football player who lived in Las Vegas, does not appear to have a public association with extremist groups. The authorities are investigating whether Shane Tamura may have deliberately targeted the NFL offices.

A look into Erin Burnett's career amidst the controversy

Born in 1976, Erin Burnett is an American journalist, who started her career as a financial analyst at Goldman Sachs and later embarked on a secondary career in broadcast journalism.

She was first at CNN, as a writer and booker, and then moved to CNBC, where she co-anchored “Squawk on the Street” and hosted “Street Signs,” reporting from around the world, including from conflict zones like Afghanistan.

After that contract expired, she rejoined CNN, in 2011, to start her new prime-time program, Erin Burnett OutFront, which became known for its economic and geopolitical analysis (TV Insider).

CNN has yet to offer an official clarification or apology for Burnett’s phrasing, as of writing this. The network’s coverage eventually updated the information to report that Shane Tamura was not white, but the “possibly white” comment had already gone viral by then.

The backlash grew as conservative news outlets and influencers ran with the moment, amplifying accusations of fake news bias. Memes of Erin Burnett’s description compared with Tamura’s actual image went viral and only continued to add fuel to the fire.