"Law & Order" hits too close to home in Tucson
(CBS/AP) TUCSON, Ariz. - The ripped-from-the-headlines plots of "Law & Order: LA" apparently hit a nerve in Tuscon.
NBC's Tucson affiliate says it won't air an upcoming episode in prime time because the show closely mirrors the January shooting rampage in the city.
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The Jan. 8 shootings left six dead and 13 wounded including Arizona congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who's still recovering. Giffords' staff said she plans to be present for the launch of the space shuttle Endeavour, manned by a team led by her husband, Mark Kelly.
An NBC promo says Monday night's episode is about "a crazed gunman" who "goes on a rampage at a political rally, killing a state senator."
KVOA president and general manager Bill Shaw says, "the Tucson community is still going through the healing process" and NBC's show has too many similarities to "that horrible day."
KVOA will broadcast the "Law & Order: LA" episode on May 17 starting at 1:05 a.m.
Officials with NBC didn't immediately respond Tuesday to KVOA's decision.