New York Times says crime occurred in 'downtown Arkansas' — promptly gets mercilessly mocked

The New York Times was widely mocked on Saturday after they posted a tweet claiming a mass shooting occurred in "downtown Arkansas" — which, of course, doesn't exist.

"Dozens of people were wounded by gunfire at a nightclub early Saturday morning in downtown Arkansas," the Times wrote on Twitter.

The crime the news outlet was referring to happened early Saturday morning in downtown Little Rock, the state capital of Arkansas.

According to CNN, 25 people were shot during a shootout at a club in Little Rock early Saturday morning. As of Sunday morning, none of the people who were shot died of their injuries.

Police believe the mass shooting is a result of rampant gang violence in the area, not terrorism. The shooting happened during a concert and police believe a dispute started the violence. Police have so far made two arrests in the incident, according to Fox News.

Needless to say, many Twitter users mercilessly mocked the Times when they caught the Twitter error:

If @nytimes had copy editors, they would know that Arkansas is a state, not a city. #flyoverCountry https://t.co/VvQmZQQtbF

— Stephen Fleming (@StephenFleming) July 1, 2017

DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKANSAS DOWNTOWN ARKAN

— Matt Stevens (@gaslightingftw) July 1, 2017

😂😂 editing with such high standards @ #NYTimes

— SherriMutts4me (@mutts4me_sherri)

July 1, 2017

"Downtown Arkansas", . . . near the corner of Oklahoma and Texas!

— Brian O'Kelley (@BrianOKelley1) July 1, 2017

Arkansas is a state, and therefore doesn't have a downtown. #journalism

— Ned Gavlick (@NedGavlick) July 1, 2017

"Downtown Arkansas"? Perhaps you should rethink the plan to eliminate copy editors?

— Ellen Goldlust (@EllenGoldlust) July 1, 2017

downtown Arkansas lmao

— 🖤 (@courtanaa) July 1, 2017

Maybe the Times let a few too many editors go. Someone could have Googled to find that Arkansas is a state, not a city. #journalism

— Dan Zimmerman (@STL_t_rav) July 1, 2017

WANTED: Copy Editor. Grasp of U.S. geography not necessary. Must bring own red marker. Job location: downtown USA. #NYTimes #Arkansas

— MT4LtdGov (@MT4LtdGov) July 2, 2017

We have more than one city in case you're wondering

— Patrick Reagan (@Reagan6Patrick) July 1, 2017

Downtown Arkansas? I'm in downtown Texas

— Timeless (@mlester270) July 1, 2017

Ironically, the error comes as the Times just laid of dozens of editors who worked as copy editors at the Times. A copy editor's job is to edit copy — whether it's part of a news report or otherwise — for spelling, grammar, style, usage, correct misleading or inaccurate information, check sources and clarify wording.

They are also tasked with looking out for libel and help a publication fact check. Often times, they are the last person to edit copy before it heads out for publication and are considered "safety nets" in journalism.

The Times, in eliminating it's copy desk, will layoff about four dozen journalists. The desk included about 100 copy editors. They have been encouraged to apply for about 50 new available positions, according to the Washington Post.

The sudden lay offs led to hundreds of Times employees staging a walk out and protest last week.