The suspected San Bernardino shooters' landlord reportedly opened Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik's apartment to the media Friday, allowing networks like MSNBC and CNN to live-broadcast reporters rifling through the couple's personal belongings. The searches raised questions about privacy, proper handling of a crime scene, and the ethics of such a live broadcast.
WATCH MORE: @DavidBegnaud enters #SanBernardino shooters' house, describes rooms https://t.co/yszMhTTJtP - @CBSNLive pic.twitter.com/xxqfQ39haX
— CBS News (@CBSNews) December 4, 2015
Screenshots from MSNBC. I added the redout pic.twitter.com/Ttu3zJ0Fjj
— Stephen Miller (@redsteeze) December 4, 2015
This is the most appalling thing cable television news has done for at least a few days.
— Jonathan Shainin (@jonathanshainin) December 4, 2015
Though some were quick to blame the media for being intrusive, others also criticized law enforcement's apparent absence at what is apparently still being considered a crime scene (a duffel bag of pipe bombs was found at the home of the couple, who were shot and killed in a standoff with law enforcement hours after a shooting spree that left 14 victims dead).
Asked FBI Los Angeles if suspects' apartment now open to the media/public: “I don’t believe so…it is still an ongoing investigation.”
— Brian Ries (@moneyries) December 4, 2015
I’m not mad at MSNBC, actually. I’m mad at the FBI and the police.
— Michael B Dougherty (@michaelbd) December 4, 2015
MSNBC now cut from the live shot, maybe deciding not such a great idea to show unknown people's pics, driver's license[!] on live TV
— James Poniewozik (@poniewozik) December 4, 2015
Update 1:29 p.m.: An FBI spokesperson has told reporters that the crime scene is no longer active.
FBI Spokesperson Lourdes Arocho: "The search is over at that location. We are going to have a press conference at 11 o'clock."
— Dylan Byers (@DylanByers) December 4, 2015