As Twitchy reported Tuesday night, a reporter named Marcus DiPaola sent a desperate tweet to colleagues, warning them to stay far from the Michael Brown memorial on Canfield Drive in Ferguson, Mo., as he had just been attacked and robbed at gunpoint.
At almost the same time, police scanner reports told of a carjacking involving a member of the media. As the Riverfront Times reported, the two incidents were indeed related. Freelancer reporter Emily Molli and cameraman DiPaola told police that 15 to 20 masked black men brandishing guns and hammers chased them to their car, smashed out the windows, and demanded the keys from Molli, pointing a gun to her head.
Before the seriousness of the crime was known, some folks had fun with the idea that anyone would steal (or drive) a Prius.
@phampel a Prius?!? Wow those loiters will take ANYTHING!!!
— John (@Bluesfan2181) November 26, 2014
@phampel Why would anybody steal – or, for that matter, rent – a Prius?
— Richard Callow (@publiceyestl) November 26, 2014
@publiceyestl @phampel Dale Singer drives a Prius.
— elisacrouch (@elisacrouch) November 26, 2014
@elisacrouch @publiceyestl @phampel What's with the anti-Prius crusade? Afraid of getting 50+ miles to the gallon?
— Dale Singer (@Dalesinger) November 26, 2014
@elisacrouch @phampel I bet it was a pledge drive premium at his current employer.
— Richard Callow (@publiceyestl) November 26, 2014
https://twitter.com/denpro906/status/537433518104907776
In the end, despite being attacked by a mob and carjacked, DiPaola kept a brave face about his Prius.
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Rioting "protesters" burned down my car after carjacking me and putting a pistol to my videographer's forehead. #ferguson
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
People texting me saying my car is the arson they're talking about on Canfield in the press conference happening right now. #ferguson
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
Canfield at #MikeBrown memorial. Car on fire. #Ferguson @cgagneASN pic.twitter.com/rK9zrq4iOF
— ASN Global News (@argusnewsnow) November 26, 2014
@argusnewsnow @cgagneASN THAT'S MY CAR! Damn it!!
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
was at Canfield memorial with Fox News crew to check out my burned out car. saw a group rallying nearby to get us. Hustled out. #ferguson
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
RIP Prius. survived multiple hurricanes, tornadoes, countless breaking news stories. But did not survive #ferguson pic.twitter.com/HfrJo33p6b
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
@MJDiPaola so sorry! #thatsucks
— Diane (@sisterbullfrog1) November 26, 2014
@MJDiPaola @MatthewKeysLive Ouch. And acts of civil disobedience are excluded from auto insurance policies, too.
— Tony Pascarella (@tonypascarella) November 26, 2014
@MJDiPaola what a shame. Sorry to see this.
— Lori Hoeksema (@lorihoeksema) November 26, 2014
https://twitter.com/JayCordova23/status/537692847156494336
@JayCordova23 @GOPJarhead trust me I know. My cameras have more insurance than my car
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
https://twitter.com/JayCordova23/status/537698396174577665
@MJDiPaola @PaulLewis This stinks. So uncalled for…and so pointless.
— Barb Dignan (@barbdignan) November 27, 2014
Aftermath of burned car in #Canfield. #Ferguson #mikebrown @MJDiPaola pic.twitter.com/LNPBxT9c1r
— Christopher Gagné (@TheRealChrisJG) November 27, 2014
Bonus points for tenacity.
Kevlar burned up in car. anyone know where I can get a vest on short notice? Not thrilled about going back out w/out protection. #ferguson
— Marcus J. DiPaola (@marcusdipaola) November 26, 2014
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