Reuters may take action against a news editor who immediately blamed President Donald Trump in the aftermath of The Capital Gazette shooting in Annapolis, Maryland, on Thursday.

Reuters Breakingviews Editor Rob Cox was one of many journalists blaming the president’s “fake news” rhetoric for inciting violence against the media after the shooting. (RELATED: Journos, Leftists Blame Trump For Maryland Newsroom Shooting)

“This is what happens when @realDonaldTrump calls journalists the enemy of the people,” Cox reportedly said in a now-deleted tweet. “Blood is on your hands, Mr. President. Save your thoughts and prayers for your empty soul.”

Cox later acknowledged that he shouldn’t jump to “a conclusion about the motives here” while the shooter was found to have had a personal vendetta against The Capital Gazette. (RELATED: Annapolis Shooter Identified, Called Gazette His ‘Sworn Blood Enemies’)

Fair enough to call me out for jumping to a conclusion about the motives here. Vilifying any category of people – journalists, migrants, conservatives, liberals etc – can incite violence. This one hits close to home. Genuinely saddened. https://t.co/pyr3HTFzbQ — Rob Cox (@rob1cox) June 28, 2018

Steve Adler, the editor-in-chief of Reuters, released a statement on Thursday indicating that the news organization does not condone Cox’s tweet and “will take appropriate action” against him:

“Earlier this evening, Reuters Breakingviews Editor Rob Cox tweeted about the shooting in Annapolis, Maryland. He has since deleted the tweet and apologized. Mr. Cox’s actions were inconsistent with the Thomson Reuters Trust Principles requiring journalists to maintain freedom from bias. We do not condone his behavior and will take appropriate action.”

Cox apologized in a series of four tweets, explaining that he responded “emotionally and inappropriately” to the shooting.

When I saw the news today that a mass shooter had targeted the employees of a newspaper in Maryland I responded emotionally and inappropriately. — Rob Cox (@rob1cox) June 29, 2018

2- Though my comments were entirely personal, they were not in keeping with the Reuters Trust Principles and my own standards for letting facts, not snap judgments, guide my understanding. — Rob Cox (@rob1cox) June 29, 2018

3 – My experience as a member of the community of Newtown, Connecticut in the aftermath of the Sandy Hook tragedy, combined with the possibility that my colleagues in the press were being targeted, pushed me into a state of emotional distress. — Rob Cox (@rob1cox) June 29, 2018

4 – I am sorry for my comments, which I quickly deleted and have disavowed, and especially remorseful if they did anything to distract from the thoughts and love we must send to the community of Annapolis. — Rob Cox (@rob1cox) June 29, 2018

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