29 Sep 2012

Fox News sorry for screening suicide

8:14 pm on 29 September 2012

United States television channel Fox News has apologised for showing a man fatally shooting himself on live television after a police chase.

Fox News was covering a high-speed chase that began in Phoenix, Arizona, using a helicopter that was filming the events live.

The images were then broadcast live from Fox News in New York.

As it became clear what the man was about to do, the presenter, Shepherd Smith, tried to warn the programme's director to stop the transmission.

Hundreds of thousands of viewers were able to see the moment the man shot himself.

Mr Smith later apologised to viewers for not cutting away. "We really messed up," he said.

Phoenix police say the chase may have started with a car-jacking.