Fox News' anchor Shepherd Smith apologized after the news channel broadcast live the suicide of a man being chased by police in Phoenix, Arizona.

On Friday, Fox News was covering live a car chase from an helicopter. The man stopped his vehicle, ran into the desert, pulled out a gun and shot himself on the head. Smith who was narrating the events, started to shout "Get off it, get off it" the moment he saw the man pulled out the gun but as the cameras showed the suicide, he looked terrified and people backstage were heard shouting in shock.

"We really messed up. And we are all very sorry. That didn't belong on TV," Smith told viewers after the commercial break.

He explained that Fox intended to show a five second delay of the chase but the live footage was still rolling for Fox News viewers to watch.

The man has been identified as Jodon F. Romero, 33. He was wanted for violating his parole for a weapons conviction and had committed several crimes in the past, police spokesman Sgt. Tommy Thompson told the Associated Press. 

The car chase began after a carjacking, according to Phoenix' police. Romero drove for dozens of miles or about one hour before pulling over his car.

People on the web were criticizing the fact that networks even show car chases on TV.

"Good apology, but why show car chases in the first place? What does anyone gain from watching a nut running from the police?" wrote user Garet43 on YouTube.

Watch Fox News Broadcast of the Suicide Below:

 

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