Hoax Busted: 'Saved By The Bell' Star Dustin Diamond Charged with Murder after Stabbing Victim Dies is Fake

A report ― claiming that the former "Saved By The Bell" star Dustin Diamond, has been charged with second-degree murder after a man he stabbed died at a Wisconsin hospital ― is a hoax.

He is best known for his awkwardly hilarious character Samuel "Screech" Powers in the popular  an American television sitcom "Saved By The Bell".

The fake report was started by an entertainment website Empire News. The disclaimer page of Empire News calls itself a satirical website that publishes fake news. The report, published on 30 December, has gone viral since then and has been shared by thousands of fans and viewers of the sitcom.

The false report stated:

Former Saved By The Bell star Dustin Diamond, best known for his awkwardly hilarious character Samuel "Screech" Powers on the timeless popular hit teen television series Saved By The Bell, has been charged with second-degree murder after a man he stabbed during a barroom brawl has died at a Wisconsin hospital.

Diamond, 37, initially told police that he accidentally stabbed the man with what he said was a 'pen', although he later referred to the weapon, which was never found, as a knife. According to Diamond, while trying to defend his fiance, 27-year-old Amanda Schutz, at the Grand Avenue Saloon in Port Washington, where Diamond is a resident, he was forced to brandish the weapon.

Diamond was initially charged with second-degree recklessly endangering safety, disorderly conduct, and carrying a concealed weapon and was released on $10,000 bail before the man, only being referred to by the name of 'Casey' per request of family, passed away. Originally reported that Casey was completely fine and his wounds mostly superficial, reports say he took a turn for the worse after a wound from the fight became infected. He died on the operating room table.

A Snopes report calling the bluff on the news stated that the false news was nothing, but a second-degree rumour.

It should be noted that Dustin Diamond was actually arrested on 25 December 2014 for allegedly stabbing a bar patron in Wisconsin, the incident, however, did not prove fatal to the victim, and the actor has not been charged with any form of murder, Journal Sentinel reported.

According to the Rolling Stone report, following the incident, Dustin Diamond was charged with the felony crime of second-degree for recklessly endangering safety. If found guilty, the actor could face up to 10 years in prison.

Twitter Reaction on Dustin Diamond Murder Charges

Mark Butterfuss ‏@Markbfuss
After the Lifetime movie also...'SBTB" Star Dustin Diamond Charged WMurder After Stabbing Victim Dies

Kev ‏@KevinWolfy
What are the other Saved By the Bell stars saying about Dustin Diamond's murder charge?

Vincentazz ‏@vincentazz 
Remember Screech from saved by the bell? He's been arrested for stabbing someone to death 

RYAN SMITH ‏@Ryan_Smith14
Dustin Diamond has been charged with murder. ? 

⚒Matt⚒ ‏@MGHAMMERS
Screech might not be saved by the Bell this time around the silly sods only gone and murdered someone