A news station in Dallas, Texas, is facing backlash after publishing a story alleging that the man who was shot to death in his own apartment by an off-duty officer was in possession of marijuana.

In a story published Thursday, Fox 4 News reported that police released a search warrant claiming marijuana was found in the apartment of Botham Jean, a black man who was fatally shot last week in his own home by an off-duty Dallas police officer, who is white. 

{mosads}Dallas Police Officer Amber Guyger told investigators that she mistakenly entered Jean’s apartment, believing it to be hers, and fired her gun when she thought Jean was an intruder.

She was arrested and charged with manslaughter on Sunday and was released on a $300,000 bond. 

Fox 4 News tweeted the story about the warrant Thursday afternoon, prompting swift backlash from critics who questioned on Twitter why alleged marijuana possession was being reported on by the news station.

The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) called the story an “attack” on Jean.

“This is an attack on an innocent man who was killed by a cop for simply existing in his own home. PERIOD,” the organization said of the Fox 4 story. “Botham Jean should still be alive and Black. Lives. Matter.”

This is an attack on an innocent man who was killed by a cop for simply existing in his own home. PERIOD.

Botham Jean should still be alive and Black. Lives. Matter. https://t.co/F5MFtHABzX

— ACLU (@ACLU) September 13, 2018

Comedian Tony Posnanski said Jean’s death was an example of the racial injustice that prompted former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick to kneel in protest during the national anthem.

Do not ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever ever question why Colin Kaepernick kneels. https://t.co/n0Psg4lM0G

— Tony Posnanski (@tonyposnanski) September 13, 2018

Dana Loesch, an outspoken guns rights advocate and spokeswoman for the National Rifle Association, also criticized the story.

“How is this germane to what happened?” Loesch asked on Twitter of the search warrant.

How is this germane to what happened? https://t.co/83LrJMHztu

— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) September 13, 2018

Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro also weighed in.

“Well then I guess it’s fine he was shot for no reason in his own apartment for doing nothing,” Shapiro wrote on Twitter.

Well then I guess it’s fine he was shot for no reason in his own apartment for doing nothing https://t.co/NgbGOFCjS6

— Ben Shapiro (@benshapiro) September 13, 2018

Former White House ethics chief Walter Schaub called the story a “despicable” smear.”

This smear is despicable. The man was minding his own business in his home when an intruder tried to break in and then killed him.

— Walter Shaub (@waltshaub) September 13, 2018

Nicole Kraft, a journalism professor at Ohio State University, asked Fox 4 News to explain why the outlet used a headline that focused on the alleged marijuana found in Jean’s apartment.

“Of all the things found in that apartment, why does this makes headline and not laptop, lunchbox–or cartridge casings? Please explain.”

Hi @FOX4 As a journalism prof eager to teach good news judgement to next gen of reporters, I’m curious about your headline. Of all the things found in that apartment, why does this makes headline and not laptop, lunchbox–or cartridge casings? Please explain. #osunsewsclass https://t.co/RYVBcalIRX

— Nicole Kraft (@Nicole_Kraft) September 13, 2018

The Hill has reached out to Fox 4 News for comment. 

When Buzzfeed News reached out to the Dallas news station about the backlash, the outlet said it had “no comment.”

Reporter Jon Passantino later noted that the outlet changed their story’s headline to detail how Jean’s lawyers were “disgusted” by the release of the search warrant.

.@FOX4 has updated their story headline after a wave of backlash pic.twitter.com/U2lKFcDGj2

— Jon Passantino (@passantino) September 14, 2018

The original tweet was still online as of Friday afternoon as social media users slammed the station.

Well there’s your motive! Black guy with pot! Shot ! In his own apartment! By the police! https://t.co/yn7M04NHze

— Tommy Chong (@tommychong) September 14, 2018

Subtext: it’s fine to enter someone’s apartment to shoot them if you later discover they smoked pot https://t.co/yYKHmX0ew0

— Don Moynihan (@donmoyn) September 14, 2018

‘Innocent man who was murdered by a police officer who unjustly broke into his home has his entire life dug up by cops trying to justify their actions’ is a better headline, try that next time.

— Ryan Brown (@Toadsanime) September 14, 2018

If there was an award for the worst journalism this would be a really strong contender. Congratulations to everyone at Fox 4 News. https://t.co/L9Z5rNus1b

— Binyamin Appelbaum (@BCAppelbaum) September 13, 2018

DEVELOPING: All manner of drugs found in the homes of every person employed at @FOX4 because you have to be high af to run this shit.

— EricaJoy (@EricaJoy) September 13, 2018

Do you think if a black man broke into a white woman’s apartment and murdered her, we’d assume the pot the cops found belonged to her?

— Nazis Are Bad (@KellyScaletta) September 13, 2018

Respectfully — actually, nah — who gives a fuck???? https://t.co/MXea8jIgSp

— Tom Angell (@tomangell) September 13, 2018

I cc’d someone from their staff because this is has nothing to do with the story. Dumb reporting

— Tauhid Chappell at ONA18 (@TauhidChappell) September 14, 2018

This is some absolutely despicable “reporting”: https://t.co/mEsJqZcW6z

…so despicable it inspired me to write a #TWIW item a couple days early. #fox4 #newsjudgmentfail pic.twitter.com/YAZPoRh9Kt

— Dan Adams (@Dan_Adams86) September 14, 2018