Gawker called out KTLA’s David Begnaud today for the somewhat lighthearted tone of his report on the murder of MTV music/production coordinator Gabriel Aron Benmeir. In particular, Gawker’s Richard Lawson wasn’t a fan of Gegnaud’s interview with “Block Captain” Joann Smyth.

“They banter back and forth a bit, all the while seeming to entirely forget that someone was horribly murdered right near where they stand. Local news broadcasts are often a bit tonally off, but the cutesy get-to-know-a-neighborhood vibe of this strikes as especially strange.”

The interview in question takes place about a minute into the piece.

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Gabriel Aron Benmeir, an MTV music and production coordinator who worked on shows like Punk’d and Top Pop Group, was shot in the back of the head and killed last night, execution-style, outside his Mid-Wilshire apartment. Neighbors allegedly heard shots around 1 AM, according to the LA Times, but the police were never called. Benmeir’s body wasn’t found until 6:30 AM. No word yet on whether he died immediately or as a result of massive blood loss.

Obviously more to come on this story. From what we’ve heard thus far, Benmeir’s killing bears an eerie resemblance to the murder of Hollywood publicist Ronnie Chasen late last year.