The same radio report began with the newsreader claiming that the student had ‘turned the gun upon himself’ after a police chase. By the end of the report listeners were left with feelings of uncertainty about what exactly had happened as we were told the gunman died ‘following a shoot-out with police’.

In such sensitive situations as these, it’s important to stick to factual information – there is quite a difference here between a suicide and a 17 year old being shot dead by police, regardless of the circumstances.

Whatever the situation, it was clear that the radio station did not have sufficient fact or authorisation to make its initial claims. It may well have been the truth that the gunman killed himself, but the creation of sensationalist speculation that his death was the result of a shot fired by police may have proved more compelling listening… call me cynical??