The CW’s executive vice president of communications, Paul Hewitt, took a moment to pause and reflect on the mass shooting that took place early Sunday morning in Dayton, Ohio, before beginning the network’s day of panels at the Television Critics Association Summer Press Tour Sunday.
“Welcome everyone, thank you for joining us. You know, I’m not sure what’s appropriate here, but before we get started today, I feel like something needs to be said,” Hewitt began.
“Unfortunately, many of us woke up to news of another mass shooting, the second in 24 hours. So the real world is kind of interjected itself into our world of fantasy and make believe, and it really puts things into perspective. So this continues to just be heart breaking. I know everyone here collectively are keeping the victims and their families,” he said, taking a tearful pause to clear his throat and take a sip of water, “from El Paso and Dayton and everyone affected by this in our hearts and thoughts today.”
Nine people were killed and 26 were injured in a mass shooting at a Dayton nightclub called Ned Peppers at 1 a.m. ET on Sunday morning. The shooter was identified as 24-year-old Connor Betts, of Bellbrook, Ohio, and was also shot and killed by police, law enforcement sources told CBS News.
On Saturday, just one day prior, 20 people were killed and more than two dozen were injured when a shooter opened fire at Cielo Vista Mall in El Paso, Texas, with most of the attack victims shot at a nearby Walmart, law enforcement officials told the Associated Press. The suspected shooter was identified by law enforcement as Patrick Crusius, a 21-year-old white man from the Dallas suburb of Allen, Texas. He has since been taken into police custody.
“It may be a tough day but let’s see if we can get back to the business of entertainment. Thank you all for joining us for the CW’s portion of the press tour,” Hewitt said before introducing The CW’s president, Mark Pedowitz.