Friends of a university student who livestreamed his suicide attempt online have hit out at the voyeurs who egged him on and the internet trolls who continue to post vile abuse in the aftermath, MailOnline can reveal today.
Dakota Moore, 21, who had been studying Criminal Justice and Public Policy, logged onto notorious anonymous chatroom 4chan on Saturday night. Naming himself 'Stephen' he filmed himself downing pills and vodka before setting fire to his dorm room.
His actions were watched by 200 viewers – the maximum number permitted on the 4chan forum. And though the video runs for more than 40 minutes none who witnessed the room filling with smoke reported the incident. Instead they encouraged and mocked him and they continue to do so.
In a heartfelt statement, Cheyenne Vivian, a friend of Dakota's from his hometown of Orangeville, Ontario, attacked those now taunting the 21-year-old who was pulled from his dorm room after setting it on fire on Saturday night.
She said: 'Have some respect and stop. We are friends with Dakota, I was supposed to be seeing him after exams. Did any of you eggheads cheering him on think to help him and say stop? What if that was your sister? Your friend? Would you be saying this s***?'
Another, Emma, who has known Moore since childhood described the poster who has set up a fake Dakota Moore Facebook page as 'an insensitive bastard' and revealed she has reported him to the police in a bid to have it shut down.
As Moore begins his recovery from serious but non life-threatening injuries in Guelph General Hospital his Facebook page has become a target for trolls who have also taken to a plethora of online forums.
Lighthearted pictures and posts made by Moore as recently as two weeks ago have been deluged with comments from trolls.
Dubbing him 'Toaster Steve,' – a reference to the face that Moore started the fire in his room using a toaster hidden beneath his bed – one poster, calling himself Dakota Proutt writes: 'Congrats, you f***ed up one of the easiest things in life.'
Another calling himself Caspar Christmas wrote: 'Who gives a f*** about OP (original poster), is Toaster okay?'
Related Article(s): http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...it-suicide-live-4chan-abused-sick-trolls.html
