deadmonton 2011 - abdi ali mohamud

"I heard four or five bangs from a gun and then I said to my girlfriend 'Oh, I also think there is a car leaving now,' " Karl Springer said.

"All of a sudden I heard this really, really big bang," one woman said, adding "it sounds like about four shots" in rapid succession.

"And I looked at my clock and I checked and it was three o'clock exactly."

"Going to work and I came out and seen tape everywhere and then you see this," Tim Matthews said.

"I'm pretty new to the area – I'm from Ontario. I thought Hamilton was bad but I came out here and it's bad too.

"I really don't know what to think – it's kind of early but I know it's not right.

"I don't think I'll move. I don't know where I'd move to. I mean, it's happening all over town right," Matthews said.

The owner of Westmount Store Fixtures said he was not surprised to see the police tape when he arrived for work at about 6:30 a.m.

"It's one of those areas where you look at it and it's unfortunate that things happen. But that's part of life, I guess, in this area," Allan Palmer said.

The neighbourhood is fine during the day, he said. “Your mysteries come out at nighttime."

"Well, I knew it was a shooting or a stabbing. I wasn't sure," Don said. "But it doesn't matter where you are in the city. It's all over the place."

"Damn rights," Chuck Lawrence said. "Killer capital, probably. I wouldn't frickin' doubt it. You know, it happens every day, any neighbourhood. You just go in there and there happens to be a killing."

"It's kind of frightening," Alex Halldorson said. "I feel like I have to look over my shoulder when I go home from work all the time. It's a little scary."

Joseph Lum, who lived down the street from the scene, said one of the houses near where the body was found had been vacant for years but he recently saw some people move in.

Lum said the other house belonged to an elderly couple.

Terry Inigo-Jones, who commutes weekends from Calgary, say it wasn't uncommon to see police activity in the area.

"I may have to move away. My wife already doesn't like the neighbourhood I'm in," he said. "Lived here for about five years. Not unusual to see police, but nothing like this. It's time to move."

A worker at a nearby convenience store said he received a shock when he arrived at 7:00 a.m.

"There were police cars everywhere, blocking off the street," Sung-Min Kang said. "First time I've seen a murder."

He said his customers were curious, with some expressing concern.

"They say it's crazy and that there are too many homicides."

Ten murders had been chalked up in the previous eight weeks ... and tension was growing among local citizens. At this time in 2010 there had only been seven homicides.

Measured against other Canadian cities, the Alberta capital's record easily bested the Greater Toronto Area's 23 slayings (despite a population five times greater) and dramatically outstripped comparably-sized Calgary's pair for the year.

"It's frusturating for everybody," Mayor Stephen Mandel told reporters. "The new chief is going to have to get on this right away.

"I've talked to the chair of the commission, our office has been very proactive in this, and the police are doing all they can do.

"I think we do need to do more statistical analysis to see if we can find out what's going on. It's frustrating for everybody.

"I would not like to think this is something that's a pattern that's going to continue. I think that we need to find ways in which to deal with this more effectively.

"And this is not a criticism of police – they're doing all they can do.

"I'm talking societal – how we're going to deal with this in a better way.

"If there was a trend, we could allocate people to deal with the trend. There's not. And so it's really difficult for the police to put more people over on this area.

"Now maybe what we need to do is take a look at beefing up some of our police in some of the more challenged areas of the city."

With former police chief Mike Boyd stepping down at the end of 2010, the Edmonton Police Service was without a figurehead for five months and the latest murder came just days before the new chief was to be sworn in.

At some level it was decided to let some of the steam off. Hours after the murder in McCauley, acting chief David Korol summoned media and announced that police had another homicide investigation on their hands.

"This is Edmonton's most recent homicide, way too many for a city this size," he said.

Despite the grim announcement, Korol offered reassurance.

"If you are an Edmontonian, and go about your everyday business in a normal fashion, you are very safe. It is highly unlikely you will become involved in a homicide.

"However if you choose to lead a high risk lifestyle by purchasing, selling or consuming drugs or associating with those involved in criminal activity, you are putting yourself at risk.

"The general public is very safe," Korol said.

The acting chief backed up his claim by unravelling some of the math behind the year's homicides.

Two had occurred in previous years and are included in 2011 for bureaucratic reasons, he said. Two of the dead were shot by police, and two murders had occurred inside correctional facilities.

With the suggested tally at 19, Korol positioned the solve rate by noting charges had been laid in 11 homicides and that an announcement regarding another case was pending.

"If you commit a homicide in Edmonton, chances are very good that we will catch you and bring you to justice," he said.

Being careful not to point fingers, Korol offered theories as to why Alberta's two largest cities differ when it comes to murder rates.

"We have a number of federal and provincial correctional institutions in Edmonton that Calgary doesn't have. We are a draw for the northern community, not that that means there's any more involvement in crime or anything," he said.

That Edmonton is used as a jumping off point for drug trafficking in the oil patch is well established.

But Korol said that while most of Edmonton's homicides are the result of disputes between people who know each other, police analysts have found few similarities behind the city's 25 murders.

Korol added those involved generally are living a high-risk lifestyle or are engaged in criminal activity.

"We see the abuse of alcohol as a contributing factor, some issues around mental health, those are the kinds of issues that we need to look at societally," he said.

"The data needs to lead us there. So far it's not pointing strongly anywhere."

Provincial opposition critics have cited Alberta's ranking near the nation's bottom in terms of the number of police officers relative to population and that solutions may lie in more police officers on the street.

Koral said he was not so sure.

"When we look at the data, involving homicides, it doesn't point to anything specific. So I think the answer is much bigger than just more police," he said.

"I believe the answer is societal, and I think that's where the solution will be."

With many homicides taking place in Edmonton's inner city, Korol pointed to initiatives with drug and alcohol treatment and getting help to those who want it.

The acting chief also drew attention to more postive numbers.

"In the midst of this homicide increase, you can take some comfort in knowing that Edmonton's rates of both violent crime and property crime have decreased from last year," he said.

"What we are seeing with this rash of homicides so far in 2011 is contrary to what the trend has been since 2005."

With the city set on breaking 2005's record of 39 murders, police resources have been stretched.

With homicide section heads Staff Sgt. Lorne Pubantz and Staff Sgt. Dave Spiers looking on, Korol stated officers from other departments within the service have been brought in to assist with ongoing investigations.

Spiers then brought media up to date regarding the morning's murder.

"Forensic investigators are out there right now. The autopsy will tell us other things.

"Interviews have taken place with people that heard different things ... and that's what we do – we will go through this weekend to follow all those leads and tasks."

Spiers admitted they were still looking for tips to solve the case.

"It could be the simplest thing ... seeing a car that was driving fast through the area at particular times – that could be the tip."

Contacted by Metro Edmonton, Edmonton Police Association president Sgt. Tony Simioni agreed with most of what Korol said and suggested lack of staffing should sound alarms.

"We are the second-lowest (police to people) behind P.E.I.," he said of the Alberta police rate.

"Citizens have to ask the question, ‘Why are we not policing the city even to the median of the country?' "

Simioni noted retirement trends and challenges in attracting new city recruits as part of the problem.

"It's not as attractive a career as it used to be. We have barely kept pace with filling positions."

Simioni also cited work-life balance issues, close media scrutiny of police work and a "real inequity in federal funding" for municipalities was also at fault.

Nationwide, Alberta has the second-lowest officer-per-capita ratio at 177, with Edmonton at 166.

Mahamed Accord, president of the Alberta Somali Community Centre, said Mohamud had lived in Edmonton off and on for many years, was married and the father of a young girl.

"It's a never-ending story. There is a resignation that nothing has changed. We don't know where to begin," Accord said of the losses his community has suffered.

"But we are trying to face adversity."

Accord said the three Somali deaths in 2011, in addition to about thirty in Alberta over the past few years, called for a renewed response to the violence.

"We have three young men who lost their lives and we never seen anybody put to justice," Accord said. "It's not what has happened, it's what will happen. These issues keep coming back."

A town hall meeting at the Alberta Avenue Community League was planned for June 26th.

"There is a movement within the community to take action. We want to engage with the youth who are in the street who are not connected with the community."

Accord hoped to achieve two ends: to advocate on behalf of the community over how the violence is being addressed, and to reach out to community members who may be involved in criminal or high-risk lifestyles.

"We're going to advocate and raise our voice and frustration to the city and police," Accord said. "There is a concern here and we want to go forward.

"At the same time, we want to do some action within the community to address the problem," he said. "It seems that now is the time to start a program like that, engaging with the youth in their own capacity."

Accord hoped youth who have information would come forward – something that can only happen if they have trust in police.

"Enough is enough. Let's do something about it ... something has to be done."

Accord remained concerned that Mohamud's murder would never be solved as police have closed so few cases involving young Somali men.

"What is unique to us is our killers go free. The Edmonton police department is not working for us. It is not treating us equally."

Understandably, those allegations prompted a reaction from police.

Speaking to media, Insp. Stewart Callioux, head of the major crimes unit, said while the homicides Accord spoke of have been challenging, no prejudice was involved.

"It's unfortunate that we haven't had more luck, to be honest with you, in some of the investigations involving members of the Somali community," Callioux said.

"We wanna put every bad guy in jail that's responsible for any homicide in this city ... no matter what their race, colour or creed.

"I don't care if it's a homicide or a parking complaint, we're going to treat everybody the same.

"The homicide investigators we have in this section are extremely dedicated. They are some of the best people we have in the police service and they are dedicated to catching people who murder people.

"We've asked constantly for help from the community in bringing any evidence forward or any evidence that can assist us in solving these crimes," Callioux added.

"We need members of the public, whoever it is, Somalian community or otherwise, that have information about these homicides to come forward and tell us what they know.

"What drives our investigations is evidence ... we follow the evidence," Callioux said.

"So, if we don't have evidence to follow, the investigation is going to hit a dead end sooner than later."

Accord said those he represents won't feel comfortable until police change their recruitment practices.

"Hire more people who know the culture and the language, so that they can get more information," Accord said.

Callioux suggested that that was something police were already working towards.

"I am aware that we are making some progress, that there is some interest, in fact, possibly for the next recruit class."

Making matters worse was news that charges would not be laid in the death of Yusuf Abdirahim. The 20-year-old died May 21st of a head injury sustained during a fight that police say was sparked by Abdirahim.

Callioux addressed the Abdirahim case, saying the investigation remained open and that charges were still possible.

"We have done a thorough investigation on this homicide, as we have every homicide this year and in past years," he said.

"These investigations are not simple paper reports that you can type into three pages.

"It's a terrible loss of a family to have to bury one of their children before they pass away. And we're doing everything we can to ensure this investigation is handled completely and thoroughly.

"As in every investigation that we handle, we forward the investigation to the Crown for a determination on the best charges, if any charges, that we should proceed with," he said.

Members of the Somali community said they expected to file an official complaint with the Edmonton Police Commission regarding how the deaths have been investigated.

54-year-old Rod Knecht, most recently the Senior Deputy Commissioner of the RCMP, was officially sworn in at a ceremony held inside city hall.

Knecht replaced former chief Mike Boyd who stepped down before completing his five-year term in December 2010 to attend to the care of his parents.

Boyd's four-year tenure was marked with turmoil within the service and it was hoped that the hiring of a cop's cop – once Alberta's top Mountie – would help boost morale among the rank and file.

As part of his remarks to those gathered, Knecht sent the message that no one group will be solving Edmonton's problems without cooperation.

"When I think about what defines excellence in policing, I think of the African proverb: if you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to far, go together," he said.

Once the pomp and circumstance was over, Knecht faced media who were anxious to learn of his plan to tackle the city's most pressing crime issue: the record-setting murder rate.

"I'm obviously aware of the number of homicides, that's something I'll be focusing on immediately," he said.

"I've been briefed on that at a very high level. I'm going to be getting a more comprehensive briefing on that over the next couple of days."

About accommodating Somali concerns, Knecht deftly placed their interests within a larger context.

"I will be reaching out to all the different diverse communities within Edmonton, having conversations with them and finding out what their issues are, having discussions and coming up with solutions," he said.

Among Knecht's other major challenges was gaining the respect of frontline officers.

"It's important they get the necessary support to do their jobs," he said. "Their jobs are extremely difficult.

"They need the support of the community and they need the support of their police chief."

Fresh from Ottawa, Knecht's new role brought him home.

Born in Red Deer, Knecht joined the RCMP in 1977 when he was 19 years old and went on to serve in Ontario, Saskatchewan and Alberta.

Knecht became Alberta’s second-in-command in 2003, and later became Deputy Commissioner of the northwest region, which included Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, the Northwest Territories, and Nunavut.

He called it an "honour and a privilege" to be back in Edmonton with his wife and two daughters.

"Edmonton is home," Knecht said.

"While there's often a feeling of familiarity in coming home, returning to Edmonton as the chief of police in one of Canada's premiere police services provides me with new challenges and opportunities."

Knecht capped his first official day on the job by announcing that five people had been charged in connection with the death of Gyozo Victor Barasso.

The 45-year-old was stabbed to death on February 26th, allegedly by fellow inmates, while serving time at the Edmonton Institution.

While it was all smiles downtown, a more sombre ceremony was taking place in Rosslyn at the Al Rashid Mosque within the Canadian Islamic Centre at 13070 113 Street.

It was there that respects were paid to Abdi Ali Mohamud.

"This is another tragedy within the community. Within two weeks, this is the second one," said Hassan Ali, a spokesman for Mohamud's family.

"This has been going on for a long time and hopefully working with police and the community, this will be resolved as soon as possible.

"I have known him [Mohamud] since 1992. As far as I know, he was working and was a hardworking member of the community," Ali said.

"He was a family man and has a 20-month-old daughter."

Ali said he had been working for six months with Mohamud helping him obtain immigration papers. The man had been continually renewing his work permit, allowing him to work in the province until he could achieve permanent residency status.

Ali said Mohamud's family had asked for privacy.

Abdullah Mahamad knew Mohamud through community activity and doesn't think he was the intended target.

"He was in the wrong place at the wrong time," he said.

Mahamad summed up the typical profile of past slain Somalis – usually involved in drugs or illegal activity – and noted Mohamud was from an older generation and had no known criminal association.

The community is "really at a loss ... how can you feel when someone dies and you don't know why?" he asked.

Most carrying Mohamud's casket, draped in a green and gold embroidered prayer rug, didn't know the man personally. Abukar Nur said that didn't matter.

"It's not necessary to know him. It's a religious duty to come," he said.

Mohamud's death was hard for their community to understand, Nur said, noting the man's family was "sharing the sorrow and agony, but as a community, internally ... you cannot even say in words how much sorrow they are feeling."

Alberta Somali Community Centre president Mahamad Accord expressed pessimism when it came to changes a new police chief could offer.

"I had a relationship with the chief. It didn't change the last one. What makes this one different?" was the question Accord posed.

"I have no hope anybody is going to change that. The last chief didn't change anything.

"What this means to my community is that we have to try harder," Accord said.

"In one way, this is very sad that you keep watching and watching this happen again. But at the same time, it gives you a reason why you have to try harder and do better."

The man who looked over the funeral, Sheikh Osman Barre, also had some words to say about who should shoulder some of the responsibility for the deaths – can be seen here »

Prior to the funeral, Abdi Ali Mohamud's body was prepared according to Muslim tradition.

Overlooking the sacred duty, as he had for most of the Somali murder victims buried in Edmonton, was Sheikh Osman Barre.

It was the second time in two weeks he had to perform the task, and Mohamud's death made it three times this year.

"It's very worse it's becoming – day after day," Barre told CBC Edmonton.

"I think about that could be happen to my children also. I have two boys graduating through university and two daughters here."

Barre said his community must be more active in finding the answer to the question of why so many had died on Edmonton streets.

"We are responsible for them what's happening to them now," he said.

"As a Somali community we have to do something. We have to wake up. We can't complain someone else all the time. We have to do something.

"I feel that is maybe could happen to my son."

Homicide detective Dan Jones had to tread a difficult path when he faced media outside police headquarters.

Just six days before, acting chief David Korol had told citizens they had nothing to fear if they minded their own business and stayed away from criminal activity.

It fell to Det. Jones to reveal that Mohamud and the other man shot June 3rd had no criminal ties and had likely been targeted by mistake. He also had to appeal to the intended victim who dodged a bullet to come forward to prevent further violence.

"This is potentially a case of mistaken identity," Jones said.

"Mr. Mohamud was not involved in a high-risk lifestyle. He was not known to police. He had no criminal record. He had no involvement in criminal activities.

"We, at this point, have no reason to believe or we don't know if he was known to his assailants.

"Both of the individuals were not known to police. They were not living high-risk lifestyles. I don't believe either of them were the intended target.

"The method in which the homicide took place, and the way it was done, was very well organised and well thought out and it was a method of homicide that we haven't seen before in Edmonton.

"I can't speak on Alberta and Canada. I can say for myself and my experience I have never seen a homicide carried out in this fashion.

"There is a potential that there is another target of this organised homicide out there and that this person may know who they are, and they may be in fear right now.

"And it's important for us that that person come forward to us if they do know that they are the initially intended target of this homicide.

"It's important to us for our investigation to understand who they are and why they were the target. It's also important ... if they need assistance to trust us and come forward for that assistance.

"That's always going to be a concern if someone's a target. That's why we want this person to come forward, if they know who they are.

"If they do know and are sitting there afraid, going ‘that should have been me,' I would like that person to come forward to us."

When asked if the murder was gang-related, Jones professed ignorance.

"I don't know because I don't know who they are. I do know that it's organised."

When asked how the intended victim would know of the threat against him, the investigator offered the obvious.

"You probably know because there's probably reasons that you would be the intended target," he said.

Jones wouldn't elaborate further as to the manner of Mohamud's death – leaving one to wonder what was so unique about this case when it came to the experience of a veteran homicide detective.

"It's an unusual method – something we haven't seen before.

"It's organised and well thought out and I can't go into a ton of details in relation to that as the investigation is still where it is and for the integrity of the investigation I have to make sure I don't give too many details," Jones said.

"I can just tell you it's new and it's different and it's organised and well thought out."

No further information about the suspects was released.

That it was a case of mistaken identity confirmed what many in the Somali community already believed about the victim.

Hassan Ali knew in his heart that his friend of 15 years was not the intended target.

"I didn't think that way. I knew him," Ali said of Mohamud. "He had no criminal record. He had no involvement in criminal activities.

"I want the media, police, everybody to know that all Somalis are not criminals and that they are not involved in high-risk life," Ali said.

"Walking by at three o'clock or two o'clock or one o'clock ... that doesn't mean you are in a high-risk life.

"He was the same as all of us and hopefully nothing like this will happen again."

That it was another case of police pre-judging a crime confirmed what many in the Somali community also believed.

"If you are an Edmontonian, and go about your everyday business in a normal fashion, you are very safe. It is highly unlikely you will become involved in a homicide," then-acting chief David Korol stated at a news conference held June 3rd.

"However if you choose to lead a high risk lifestyle by purchasing, selling or consuming drugs or associating with those involved in criminal activity, you are putting yourself at risk.

Korol made the statements before investigators determined the actual nature of Mohamud's death.

In hindsight, the underlying message to Somalis was that police paint all in their community with the same brush.

"The general public is very safe," then-acting chief Korol had also said at the June 3rd briefing.

"This case proves that wrong," Mahamed Accord, president of the Alberta Somali Community Centre, countered.

"This is the vindication that the victim wasn't doing anything bad," he added.

Accord believed police were quick to judge the victim and that the admission by homicide investigators that this was a case of mistaken identity served as a signal for change.

"One thing that has to happen, and I hoping the new chief will institute this, some fundamental change to the attitude of the police when it comes to the homicides from our community," Accord said.

"That's something that has to change."

Accord also expressed the fears of his fellow Somalians.

"The intended target is still out there. And the people who did the killings are still out there.

"We're concerned. He's putting not only his life but those of others in the community at risk. The community is anxious to hear more.

"We are trying to calm them down, but at the same time the people are vigilant. People are taking precautions so they don't become a victim."

Accord urged the targeted man to come forward and for the 25-year-old survivor to cooperate with police.

In contrast to other Somali killings, this time it was an innocent man who was shot. Accord said he would like to see justice served in the senseless death.

"Even if it's my brother, I want this person behind bars.

The threat of continued violence was on the minds of many Somalis.

"We never know who is going to be next. Nobody is safe from such activities. If you are Somali, you may have this accident happen to you," Abukar Nur said.

Another suggested police use a double standard: one for investigating the killings of people who live life "normal" and another for those who choose "high-risk."

"If the police deem the young men who die before him as criminals or drug dealers, well what about this guy?" Abdallah Kulmiye wondered.

With the original intended target still on the street, police effort in the case carried the added burden of preventing a second homicide.

And with a killer loose, every local Somali man faced risk.

"If we wanted to die, we would stay back home [in Africa]. We are here looking for safe haven. We don't have that here," Kulmiye said of life in Emonton.

Abdulahi Mahamad said Korol's comments were not "ill-founded" at the time and he appreciated how quickly police announced that Mohamud was not involved in criminal activity.

"This is the message that needs to come out," he said.

One media outlet decided to ask the average Somali-Canadian on the street to see how safe he felt.

Nasser Gibril told Global Edmonton that most people he knows won't fear for their safety as they stay away from leading a high-risk lifestyle.

"So I'm not worried that much because always those things happen in different camps," Gibril said.

Nationwide, Somali-Canadian communities don't seem to have the same violent crime problems as those in Alberta, Ahmed Hussen, president of the Canadian Somali Congress, said.

He could recall a few homicides in the past few years in the larger Canadian-Somali communities of Ottawa, Toronto, and Hamilton.

He termed the number of homicides of Somali men in Alberta "disproportionately high."

Many living in the west are disconnected from their families and communities, usually in Ontario, Hussen said, adding the deaths are felt wherever Somalis live in Canada.

"We have to bear the cross when someone dies," he noted.

• In Edmonton: text TIP250 + message and send to CRIMES (274637)
• In Northern Alberta: text TIP205 + message and send to CRIMES (274637)

A confirmation message and unique code number will then be sent. Tipsters can respond by replying.

Within hours of Mohamud's death, television news directors were faced with the challenge of deciding what was appropriate for viewer's living rooms and dens.

Global Edmonton's 12:00 noon newscast on June 3rd led with night shots of police cars and later featured Shane Jones reporting some distance from the black tent covering the body.

CTV Edmonton's 12:00 noon newscast led with night shots of Mohamud's body followed by David Ewasuk's pre-recorded report from the scene.

Both Jones and Ewasuk noted that it took some time (five hours) before police brought in the tent to cover the body.

At 5:00 p.m., Global led its coverage with an aerial shot taken from the Canadian Traffic Network Robinson R-44 helicopter.

As Fletcher Kent began his report he warned viewers that what they were about to see was rather graphic. Unknown to Kent, the version of the pack the station ran featured little to upset viewers ...

... and they had to take Kent's word for it that the man suffered "a rather large gunshot wound."

At 5:00, 5:30 and 6:00, CBC Edmonton presented its audience with the most graphic coverage shown – and this during the story billboard segment that preceeds their actual news program.

Although the image was of short duration (about two seconds), unsuspecting viewers were offered no warning.

Later, CBC reporter Paul Moore did caution those watching his report that some of what they were about to see may be disturbing. But before the warning could be mentally processed ...

... the broadcaster displayed several uncompromising shots in succession.

CBC repeatedly used the same shot sequence in follow-up coverage, though favouring the long shots.

At 6:00 p.m., CTV billboarded their coverage with a series of quick shots ...

... before providing longer and slightly more detailed views well into reporter Ewasuk's story.

In follow-up stories, the Bellmedia station mostly ran with their night shots.

At 6:00 and 11:00 p.m., Global's story began with Kent describing the murder scene as gruesome ...

... and then only featured two heavily obscured shots of the body and a long shot.

Global made another choice when it reported that officers "picked up something that appeared to be a gun" but only showed the mystery object after it had been stuffed into a box and carried away.

In Vinesh Pratap's companion piece about the city's 2011 murder toll, Global inexplicably illustrated the story with four homicides that all clearly took place in the dead of winter – a strange choice given that at least five deaths had occurred since the last of the late-spring's snow had disappeared.

However, the Shaw Media-owned station did show a dead body – perhaps inadvertently – when parts of 32-year-old Christopher Allan Pirie were seen sticking out of a snowbank in an alley near 114th Avenue and 82nd Street.

In subsequent coverage, Global stuck primarily with their long shot, only occasionally using one of the obscured shots.

Images of Mohamud's funeral were used as B-roll by most in continuing coverage of the story ...

... with CBC jolting viewers with one last shot in their billboarding of the swearing-in of new police chief Rod Knecht.

The station fell back to a long shot in subsequent stories.

The extent to which scenes involving death are portrayed in the media is a question often debated.

The usual rule of thumb dictates that such displays have merit when the story is new to viewers, is of general interest, and only when accompanied with a warning. Discretion is used when images clearly identify a person.

Television is somewhat a different medium than newspapers or websites in that it presents material passively and without consumers having the ability to decide their level of interest in advance.

What each station chooses to show, for how long and how often, is not a decision made lightly. That said, different news directors in different media outlets will each offer their own interpretation of what responsible journalism is.

Given the coverage surrounding Abdi Ali Mohamud's death, the old axiom "if it bleeds, it leads" still seems to hold true for some broadcasters.

It will be up to the viewer to ultimately decide what is appropriate ... along with decisions about which station to continue viewing.

And while we're thinking, why is it that media always shows media covering media events ...

... with some almost always including a familiar face?

Update:

On October 26th, 2011 – in the wake of the capture and death of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi – CBC Radio's Q program posed the question "How should the media handle graphic news images?" to a reporter covering the event and a senior faculty member at the Poynter Institute.

The 22-minute discussion can be heard at Q's blog entry, or directly here.