Media Misinformation on the Atlanta Spa Killer

It's a testament to how toxic misinformation can be. I had just glanced at the issue via skimming headlines while skimming social media, and at the time either couldn't be bothered to look into it or didn't have the time. I do recall feeling outraged that a police spokesperson would blatantly try to "excuse" or explain the motive of a mass shooter. In my head, I even started drafting posts.

Turns out it was just bad reporting, where journalists took quotes out of context. As Robby Soave outlines, the spokesperson for the police department was clearly just relaying what suspect Robert Aaron Long told police. He was not adopting those statements.

I'm resentful that the piece of false information took up space in my head, no matter how fleeting of a moment it was.