Two reporters were killed during a live television news broadcast early Wednesday morning in Virginia.
Allison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, worked for WDBJ7, the local CBS News affiliate. The shooting took place at Smith Mountain Lake in Virginia. Parker, a reporter, and Ward, a cameraman, died as a result of the shooting shortly after 6:45am ET, CBS News reports, according to WDBJ7 station manager Jeff Marks
Update 10:27am CT, Aug. 26: Police were seeking Vester L. Flanagan, 41, a former employee of WDBJ7, who went by the name Bryce Williams on air. Authorities have stopped short of calling Flanagan/Williams a “suspect” in the shooting. However, accounts using the name Bryce Williams have posted video of the shooting on Facebook and Twitter. The accounts have been suspended.
Update 1:13pm CT, Aug. 26: Flanagan has died after a self-inflicted gun wound, reports Vice News.
The gunman’s face was captured in the live broadcast of the shooting.
WDBJ7
Very sad moment in the newsroom as the WDBJ GM confirms that both the reporter and photographer are dead. Senseless pic.twitter.com/qWvWd55UZh
— KC (@KCSpiron) August 26, 2015
How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video [via New York Daily News] pic.twitter.com/KoNjJOqr7k
— Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnReynolds_) August 26, 2015
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Parker’s partner, Chris Hurst, who is also an anchor at WDBJ7, shared his thoughts after the shooting.
We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— Chris Hurst (@ChrisHurstVA) August 26, 2015
We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.We just celebrated her 24th birthday
— Chris Hurst (@ChrisHurstVA) August 26, 2015
She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.
— Chris Hurst (@ChrisHurstVA) August 26, 2015
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.
— Chris Hurst (@ChrisHurstVA) August 26, 2015
WDBJ7 reports that Ward’s fiancée was at the station when the shooting played live on air.Continued coverage of the crime is available from WDBJ7’s livestream here.
Update 9:26am CT, Aug. 26: Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe says the suspected shooter was a “disgruntled employee.”
https://twitter.com/MicahGrimes/status/636542904379555841
Update 9:34am CT, Aug. 26: The shooting’s third victim, Vicki Gardner, head of the local Chamber of Commerce. She was shot in the back and is currently undergoing surgery.
Update 9:52am CT, Aug. 26: There are conflicting reports of a police pursuit of the suspected shooter. We will update with the latest information when we have confirmation.
Update 10:13am CT, Aug. 26: Name of a person of interest in the shooting added.
Correction: The name of the third victim is Vicki Gardner.
H/T Real Radio | Photo via Shawn Reynolds/Twitter | Remix by Jason Reed