After backlash, MSNBC changes headline for online piece claiming, 'Laken Riley's killer never stood a chance'

MSNBC's original headline was met with criticism on social media, as several took issue with it because it seemed sympathetic to Ibarra. 

Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, interpreted the headline as sympathetic to Riley's murderer. He wrote, "Laken Riley's killer is now the victim, according to MSNBC."

MSNBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.

Donald Trump Jr. also commented on the original headline. 

He wrote on the social media site X, "You literally can't make up this level of depravity. These people are sick. The guy is a murderer. He's an illegal alien that killed an innocent young woman, but MSNBC would rather go to bat for him. However, much you hate MSNBC, it's not enough!"

"Sometimes defense counsel just gets handed a truly awful, unwinnable case. The defense's choice of a bench trial not only saved the state the resources of a wasted jury trial; it also likely avoided unnecessarily prolonging this traumatic experience for the victim's family," the final paragraph of MSNBC's analysis read. 

Fox News' Gabriel Hays contributed to this report.