I realize that being "Gunned down" in the streets is a big news story and worthy of the front page coverage that it received. Interviewing the families that live in the neighbourhood and printing their comments was what would be expected of a newspaper doing in-depth coverage of a big story.
What isn't expected is the depths that a newspaper will go to sell newspapers.
There can be no justification for showing close up pictures of the deceased. I assumed and it was later confirmed, that this was a gang shooting. Does this mean that because the victim was (possibly) a gang member that showing him lying in the street is acceptable? It is bad enough the RCMP didn't cover the body for an extended period so that the neighbourhood families (and children) could see the body.
Couldn't they have erected some sort of shelter to cover the body from view but not disturb the forensic evidence while they waited for assistance.
And what really disturbs me is if the victim happened to be a prominent member of the city, would those same type of pictures be on the front page?
I can't imagine the reaction of the victim's family when they look at the Prince George Citizen that day and see their son, or brother lying in the street under the heading "Gunned down."
Bob Wilson
Prince George
