Anderson Cooper was forced to explain to a reporter in Ottawa Wednesday why he would not take a selfie next to the scene where a soldier was shot dead. Sun News contributor, 26-year-old Vandon Gene, pestered the veteran CNN anchor for a picture as he took a break in live coverage at the National War Memorial in Canada's capital city. Cooper was in Ottawa covering the tragic shooting of a reservist and single father, 24-year-old Corporal Nathan Cirillo, who was shot dead by a gunman. Scroll down for video Anderson Cooper was forced to explain to a young local reporter in Ottawa why it was 'wildly inappropriate' to take a selfie photo next to the National War Memorial where a solider was shot dead
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The veteran CNN anchor scolded now-former Sun News contributor Vandon Gene, 26, for his actions during the Ottawa shooting coverage
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Gene took to Twitter to complain about Cooper's behavior before issuing an apology
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The reporter has since been dismissed by the Canadian news outlet Sun News
Damage control: @placeholder later walked back his remarks, apologizing for his inappropriate behavior