Hostages Crises in Two Cities
In response to the article “Gunman Slain as Police End Pub Standoff” (front page, Sept. 28): The writers reported that the gunman was “deranged, and a county health department document found in his apartment reportedly listed him as a paranoid schizophrenic.”
By your reporting that Mehrdad Dashti was “deranged” and “listed as a paranoid schizophrenic,” you perpetuate the myths and reinforce the stigma that paranoid schizophrenics are violent murderers or prone to this behavior.
As a brother of a schizophrenic who happens to be loving, kind and intelligent, I resent these implications. In future reporting please qualify these prejudicial and stereotypical labels.
CURTIS YOSHIMURA
Santa Monica
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