https://twitter.com/JayCaruso/status/377158065327312896
Twitter was on fire this afternoon with giddy members of the media and others eager to “report” that George Zimmerman had been arrested for threatening his wife with a gun. Behold the people so many Americans rely on for their “facts.”
I mean, I guess I was wrong to think Zimmerman was an angry, insecure and violent man with severe impulse control http://t.co/yckM7KBipB
— Josh Marshall (@joshtpm) September 9, 2013
https://twitter.com/jbouie/status/377147253091467264
BREAKING: Reports indicate George Zimmerman has been arrested following an altercation in wich a gun was involved.
— WHIO-TV (@whiotv) September 9, 2013
George Zimmerman is being held by police after a domestic incident involving a gun, police: http://t.co/MokEHGrOm8 #justice4trayvon
— EBONY MAGAZINE (@EBONYMag) September 9, 2013
Damn, even OJ Simpson wasn't arrested as fast as George Zimmerman after his acquittal!
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) September 9, 2013
George Zimmerman accused of threatening his wife with a gun and beating up her father. His downward spiral is seriously disturbing
— HowardKurtz (@HowardKurtz) September 9, 2013
And that unverified “reporting” spread like wildfire thanks in part to those “responsible” journalists:
https://twitter.com/ikebarinholtz/status/377146864404930560
George Zimmerman arrested! But reportedly for assault, not something serious like walking home peacefully from the store.
— Frank Conniff (@FrankConniff) September 9, 2013
1st Zimmerman gets 2 speeding tkts now he's arrested 4 pullin a gun on his wife and father n law! He's turning into a white Rodney King
— DL Hughley (@RealDLHughley) September 9, 2013
Still standing his ground, George Zimmerman pulls a gun at home…http://t.co/5qv0kdL0yP
— Robert Picardo (@RobertPicardo) September 9, 2013
There was also this:
https://twitter.com/ejc8710/status/377161144734994432
Which was easily answered:
@ejc8710 @TwitchyTeam Gee, maybe it's because he has NOT been arrested. #idiot
— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 9, 2013
Waiting for the facts is “racist” now?
But the story started to evolve:
George Zimmerman not arrested yet but is being questioned in incident involving estranged wife and in laws. 911 call claims he had gun.
— Peter King (@PeterKingCBS) September 9, 2013
#GeorgeZimmerman no longer in police custody. Police continue to talk to him in Lake Mary house. #FOX35 @sonniabatta
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) September 9, 2013
UPDATE: George Zimmerman has not been arrested. Police are still trying to figure out what happened…
— Michael Skolnik (@MichaelSkolnik) September 9, 2013
Lake Mary PD spokesman: #GeorgeZimmerman no longer detained. He is cooperating with officers. His attorney isn't at the scene.
— Jeff Weiner (@JeffWeinerOS) September 9, 2013
Zimmerman's atty tells #CNN his client is NOT in custody "There was heightened emotion, a disagreement took place" between George & wife.
— ★Jennifer Wolfe★ (@TheeWolfe) September 9, 2013
Lake Mary Police say a weapon was present during the Zimmerman incident but NOT involved. #FOX35 @jorgekgonzalez @RockitBill
— FOX 35 Orlando (@fox35orlando) September 9, 2013
CNN no reporting that NO GUN was involved in Zimmerman incident. Whuh? Could the media have gotten it wrong about Zimmerman again?
— Time to De-Fund the Police in Democrat-Run Cities! (@NolteNC) September 9, 2013
What? Say it ain’t so!
None other than George Zimmerman’s brother, Robert, provided the most useful advice when following this story on Twitter and elsewhere:
We've learned from GZ case not to "jump to conclusions", to wait for facts, & to avoid speculation. "News" is a business – not your friend.
— Robert Zimmerman Jr. (@rzimmermanjr) September 9, 2013
We see examples of that every day.
At this time we still don’t know exactly what happened or how this story will play out, but we do know that many “early reports” were false.
Update: And the story slowly starts fading:
BREAKING: Zimmerman lawyer says client no threat with gun, blames "heightened emotions" in fight with wife
— The Associated Press (@AP) September 9, 2013
imagine that police tell @CBSEveningNews Shellie Zimmerman now says did not see a gun during today’s confrontation with George Zimmerman
— DanRiehl (@DanRiehl) September 9, 2013
Police tell us they did NOT find gun on George Zimmerman or anywhere at the scene of disturbance w/ wife
— Kim Segal (@NewsKimSegal) September 9, 2013
Editor’s note: The original title has been altered slightly for clarity.