In both the "body slam" article and this, the titles used on HN were the titles taken directly from the articles as per HN guidelines. I don't like sensationalist headlines either, but the HN users are not to blame.
(I know you didn't explicitly blame the HN users, just wanted to make that point in case someone interprets it that way.)
What's with the headlines this week? We had the "body slam" on prostate cancer, and now this?
And even when knowing the rest of the story, I'm happy that the synopsis I've received in the major news media is adequate. There is no conspiracy or mass media control going on. Robbers have motives. Film at Eleven. Yawn.