News Crews Robbed And Cameraman Pistol-Whipped In San Francisco

News Crews Robbed During Broadcast

SAN FRANCISCO -- Two television news crews were robbed and a cameraman was pistol-whipped in San Francisco on Thursday, even as a reporter was trying to deliver an early morning broadcast.

An armed robber stole camera equipment from the KNTV and KTVU crews around 6 a.m. KNTV cameraman Alan Waples was struck on the side of the head with the gun, leaving him bloodied and bruised, according to the San Francisco Chronicle.

The news teams were at the Embarcadero to report on the fatal shooting of a 33-year-old woman near the Bay Bridge the previous evening.

The robber hopped out of a black, four-door BMW and hit Waples, then shoved him to the ground and dragged off his gear, according to NBC affiliate KNTV. The gunman ordered KNTV reporter Kris Sanchez to get on the ground and struck Waples again before fleeing in the BMW, which was driven by someone else, the station said.

As the robber left, he also snatched some of Fox affiliate KTVU's gear. A magazine for a semi-automatic weapon was left behind.

The attack was not shown on air. KTVU cut away from its live coverage after reporter Cara Liu said, "Sorry, there’s an incident out here."

The San Francisco Police Department didn't immediately respond to HuffPost's inquiries, but said in an earlier statement that police had detained a "person of interest" in Wednesday's fatal shooting.

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