Posted on 06/17/2013 4:20:54 PM PDT by Oldeconomybuyer
The three minor children of a man whose suicide was broadcast live on television are suing Fox News Channel, claiming that watching the footage of their father shooting himself in the head has left them emotionally traumatized.
In a lawsuit filed in Phoenix, Ariz., earlier this month, the three children of JoDon Romero, ages 9, 13, and 15, claim they have suffered emotional distress after watching a clip of the video posted to the internet.
The two older children claim that since watching the video, they have been unable to attend school and suffer flashbacks, "sleep disturbance and obtrusive thoughts," according to the lawsuit.
Romero, 32, is alleged to have carjacked a vehicle and led police on high speed chase in which he shot at squad cars and the television helicopter that pursued him. Fox broadcast the chase live, without a delay, on Sept 28, 2012 during "Studio B with Shepard Smith," including the dramatic final moments in which Romero exited his vehicle, drew a gun, and shot himself in the head.
Lawyers for the boys said that they had been evaluated by a psychologist who found that they displayed symptoms comparable to post-traumatic stress disorder that "included flashbacks, repeated thoughts and feelings associated with viewing the video of their father shooting himself in the head, re-experiencing trauma, sleep disturbance, and intrusive thoughts," according to their lawsuit.
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
The father did this to his own children. Now the kids want to get rich. Can’t you feel the love?
We raised a guide dog puppy once. We were told if the dog was scared or nervous about anything NOT to indulge him and baby him, but to treat said event casually. Show him he needn’t be ruined by this (thunder or whatever)
While this can hardly be considered a casual event, still....
My late husband shot himself and I make sure my kids have an acceptance and equilibrium about the situation. I do the best I can. It’s been five years now and they are doing better. Son4 had the most difficult time of any of them. He was barely 17 at the time, but it hit him so hard. But he’s growing and healing.
I would think having a jailbird father who never bothered to marry their mothers and who was about to go back to jail for violating parole for fighting with at least someone’s mother and getting a domestic violence call might traumatize them more than that long range photo.
This calls for a class action suit - viewers of the video should sue the estate for his actions, which were irresponsible and caused trauma to all who viewed his activity in a public place.
My late husband shot himself and I make sure my kids have an acceptance and equilibrium about the situation. I do the best I can. It’s been five years now and they are doing better. Son4 had the most difficult time of any of them. He was barely 17 at the time, but it hit him so hard. But he’s growing and healing.
If he’s having a hard time tell him to rub some dirt on it..
What don’t kill you, makes you stronger..
They CHOSE to watch it
I don’t do recreational drugs so let me try to get this straight. The fact that their father committed suicide didn’t “traumatize” them but watching a video clip of it on the internet did? That’s Fluken weird.
Poor things. My computer can be turned off. They must have a new fangled one that has to stay on.
My late husband shot himself and I make sure my kids have an acceptance and equilibrium about the situation. I do the best I can. It’s been five years now and they are doing better. Son4 had the most difficult time of any of them. He was barely 17 at the time, but it hit him so hard. But he’s growing and healing.
_________________________
Sounds like your family is dealing with it in a healthy way. I’m so sorry for your loss.
I lost an uncle to suicide and I can’t imagine any of our family, especially his children, wanting to watch it if it were recorded.
The criminal was a good person who wouldn’t hurt anyone so says his family who are looking for a payday since the dad criminal can’t bring home the cash any longer....
*********
PHOENIX — A man who led police on a high-speed chase in the West Valley and then fatally shot himself on live television on Friday has been identified.
Phoenix police Sgt. Tommy Thompson said Jodon Romero, 33, first carjacked a 2008 Dodge Caliber at gunpoint from two people at a restaurant near 7th Avenue and McDowell Road around 11 a.m.
The vehicle was then spotted near 75th Avenue and Virginia and drove through red lights at high speed as officers pursued, refusing to stop. Officers fell back due to safety concerns, and undercover vehicles and a police helicopter were deployed to track the suspect.
Romero then fired at officers in parked patrol vehicles near 44th Avenue and Roosevelt Street, striking one of the cars, according to police.
Family tells us Romero recent got out of jail and was probably going to go back.
“He’s a good person. His intent was not to hurt anyone. He was just going through a lot and all he wanted to do was hurt himself,” said Nature Romero.
He then fled onto westbound Interstate 10, driving at excessive speeds and swerving around vehicles before exiting onto a dirt road at 491st Avenue and Courthouse Road near Tonopah.
Romero exited the vehicle and then stumbled a short distance before pulling out a gun and fatally shooting himself in the head at approximately 12:30, according to Thompson.
Helicopter video carried the event live around the country on Fox News, and anchor Shepard Smith quickly issued an on-air apology .
Thompson said the investigation is ongoing, and that Romero had a felony warrant for his arrest for Parole Violation on a weapons charge and may have had another warrant for his arrest as well. He also had a criminal record involving numerous violent crimes.
His sister tells us Romero has made mistakes in the past, but that’s not the man that they know. He’s a father for four children and was the only family she had left.
“He will be greatly missed. We are hurting right now. We have so many unanswered questions. He just couldn’t bare the thought of being away from his kids any more. We will always love him,” said Nature Romero.
Yer basic stripper name.
C-SPAN broadcasts the NATION’S suicide daily whenever congress or the house are in session.
According to Arizona Department of Corrections records, Romero started a 2.5-year prison sentence for misconduct involving weapons in April 2010. He was released on parole on June 7 of this year, and Romero would’ve finished his term on parole next week.
Romero racked up 13 disciplinary infractions while in prison, including fraud, drug possession, and several disorderly-conduct violations.
Taking a look at Romero’s court history, he’s had to appear before a judge quite a few times:
http://blogs.phoenixnewtimes.com/valleyfever/jodon-romero-crimes.jpg
Romero’s history includes convictions for marijuana possession, criminal damage, hindering prosecution, aggravated assault, DUI, and the weapons-misconduct charge that landed him in prison.
You can't even tell who it is or what they are doing. It is all BS - ambulance chaser and family looking for a payday. Obviously too damn lazy to work for a living since daddy thief isn't around to provide them with running around cash.
Were they also traumatized by criminal daddy's big ol britches falling off on so-called live tv?
Romero’s sister Nature, who was reportedly watching the car chase on TV unaware a family member was involved, spoke with NBC’s Phoenix affiliate KPNX about the incident.
“That shouldn’t have been the way that any of us had to learn about my brother’s death,” she said.
KPNX reporter Ed Tribble reported that the Romero family “is critical of the network, saying it’s the image that will always stick with them.”
******
But her brother’s LONG LIST of serious criminal acts against innocent people who became his victims won’t bother her at all because there is no money in that!
First on our list, jail all the lawyers.....
Yep. Poor things need some free money.
hell, i was living in Sarasota at the time and still remember this like it was yesterday...On the morning of July 15, 1974, Chubbuck confused co-workers by claiming she had to read a newscast to open her program, Suncoast Digest, something she had never done before. That morning's talk show guest waited across the studio while she sat at the news anchor's desk.[2] During the first eight minutes of her program, Chubbuck covered three national news stories and then a local restaurant shooting from the previous day. The restaurant was the Beef and Bottle Restaurant at the Sarasota-Bradenton Airport on U.S. 41.[10] The film reel of the restaurant shooting had jammed and would not run, so Chubbuck shrugged it off and said on-camera, "In keeping with Channel 40's policy of bringing you the latest in 'blood and guts', and in living color, you are going to see another first—attempted suicide." She drew the revolver and shot herself behind her right ear.[2] Chubbuck fell forward violently and the technical director faded rapidly to black.[11] Camera operator Jean Reed later recalled she thought it had been an elaborate prank and did not realize Chubbuck had actually shot herself until she saw Chubbuck's twitching body.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.
