Many organizations have simply discounted the importance of social media when it comes to crisis and emergency management. A recent incident at a Native American tribal office in California clearly shows that in this case the social media TWITTER has become a major player in communications with the media and the public. Prudent organizations with law enforcement and security responsibility will seek instruction and training in how to best monitor and use social media to monitor issues and crises and alert their stakeholders.
Dana Ford and Carma Hassan, reporters for CNN reported at 7:40 AM EST, Friday February 21, 2014 that they first learned of the killing of four people in Alturas, California from the social media site TWITTER.
CNN.com reported four people were killed Thursday afternoon and two others were injured in a gun and knife attack at a Native American tribal office in Alturas, California.
Police Chief Ken Barnes was the primary spokesperson. He says that Sherrie Rhoades, 44, was attending a tribal eviction meeting at the Cedarville Rancheria tribal office Thursday around 3:30 p.m. when she opened fire, Barnes said.
Rhoades then allegedly ran out of ammunition and grabbed a butcher knife from the kitchen and attacked another person, stabbing them, Barnes said.
A person at the meeting ran out of the building covered in blood and went to the Alturas police station to alert officers, Barnes said.
Police said they found Rhoades outside the building, running with a knife in her hands. She was taken into custody.
The deceased victims were identified as a 19-year-old woman, a 45-year-old woman, a 30-year-old man and a 50-year-old man.
Rhoades, who is a former tribal leader, was at the hearing because she was facing eviction, police said.
The shooting happened in Modoc County, which is in Northern California on the Oregon border.
The two who were injured by gunshots were transported to out-of-area hospitals and are in critical condition, Barnes told reporters.
"At this time, there doesn't appear to be any threat to the community," he said.
As noted CNN first learned of the shooting on Twitter.
Source: CNN.com