In an interrogation aired on national television last night, Memphis police Lt. Toney Armstrong drew a confession from Jessie Dotson for the Lester Street mass murder, says the Memphis Commercial Appeal. Four adults and two children were killed during the March 2 mass murders. The adults were shot multiple times using two different guns and the children were stabbed and beaten. Three children, though critically wounded, survived the brutal attacks.
The confession came at the end of an hourlong episode of “The First 48,” an A&E Television reality show that follows homicide detectives in several cities, including Memphis. After an argument with his brother, Dotson said, “I just started shooting.” Later, because he had been seen by the children in the house, he said in the interview, “”I tried to get rid of the kids. [] I struck them.” Valorie Smith, the guardian ad litem appointed to represent the surviving children’s interests, said, “”It does bother me that this would be viewed as entertainment. his is a very tragic circumstance. These children lost a tremendous amount. They lost family members. This is a very difficult situation, and to have this played on the TV again and all the comments it will elicit, I find this very disturbing.”
Link: http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/jul/16/first-48-airs-confession-draws-criticism-from/