Police Respond to False Report of Gunshot at Stephen Collins’ Home, Find Nothing
No, there was no gunshot at actor Michael Collins‘ residence. The actor wasn’t even home.
Collins was all over the news Tuesday when TMZ released audio of the 7th Heaven star confessing to molesting multiple underage girls over several years.
Late into the evening, Twitter was abuzz when actress Donna D’Errico alleged that the embattled star had shot himself:
That guy from 7th Heaven lives right around the corner from me & just shot himself a few minutes ago…
— Donna D'Errico (@DonnaDErrico) October 8, 2014
That's all I know. The police have the street cordoned off and aren't even letting residents in..
— Donna D'Errico (@DonnaDErrico) October 8, 2014
She also posted a photograph of police vehicles, with red sirens glaring on a dimly-lit street. ABC 7 seemingly echoed her claims, reporting via Twitter:
#BREAKINGNEWS: LAPD responding to reports of single gunshot at home owned by TV actor Stephen Collins http://t.co/ytX6HQJ3Bs
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) October 8, 2014
But as it turns out, the Los Angeles Police Department had responded to an errant call. Collins was not home at the time, and according to multiple outlets, his reps say he is alive and well:
BREAKING: #LAPD has confirmed to me that NO ONE WAS INSIDE ACTOR STEPHEN COLLINS HOME. NO ONE WAS SHOT. Hoax call. Now RT this.
— Gigi Graciette (@GigiGraciette) October 8, 2014
Lesson learned? Wait for confirmed facts to emerge, and never trust an actress’ tweets as verified information.
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