SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (AP) — A Massachusetts newspaper reporter has resigned after falsely suggesting the perpetrator of the deadly shooting at a Maryland newspaper was wearing a President Donald Trump-inspired “Make America Great Again” hat.

The Republican newspaper in Springfield reports Conor Berry has apologized for tarnishing the “good work of fair-minded journalists everywhere” in his Friday resignation letter.

Folks, My 21-year career as a "journalist," a fancy term that makes my skin crawl, frankly, came to a screeching halt yesterday with one stupid, regrettable tweet. Can't take it back; wish I could. My sincere apologies to all good, hardworking reporters and to POTUS supporters. — CONOR BERRY (@CBerry413) June 29, 2018

Berry tweeted an image of the familiar red hat and suggested 38-year-old Jarrod Ramos had dropped a similar one on The Capital Gazette’s newsroom floor before opening fire and killing five people Thursday. The tweet has since been taken down.

The Republican’s executive editor Wayne Phaneuf says journalists must be “more vigilant than ever” in their efforts to be fair and accurate. Trump frequently criticizes reporters as peddlers of “fake news.”


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Information from: The Springfield (Mass.) Republican, http://www.masslive.com/news/