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A Virginia television news reporter and her cameraman were shot and killed in a hail of gunfire during a live report early this morning.
Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, were interviewing a woman during a live report at 6:45 a.m. for WDBJ-TV in Virginia when a gunman dressed in black approached and opened fire.
UPDATE 1: The Washington Post identified the shooter as a disgruntled former employee of WDBJ-TV. Virginia police are in active pursuit of the gunman on I-64 in Virginia.
Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe said the suspect who has been identified is believed to be a disgruntled employee of the TV station. Federal law enforcement officials are searching for the gunman.
McAuliffe also said that authorities had ruled out an act of terrorism and described the shooting as a “criminal case.” He said police have a photo of the individual and are “in pursuit as we speak.”
UPDATE, 11:15 a.m.: The August County Sheriff’s Office identified the suspect as Vester Lee Flanagan, 41, of Roanoke, VA.
Originally published August 26, 2015 @ 10:08
Ward was hit first and he dropped the camera. Parker, who saw Ward being shot, screamed and turned to run, but she was cut down in mid-stride. Her dying screams can be heard in the background.
Both victims were hit multiple times. They died at the scene.
The murders were captured live on TV.
“We’ve lost members of our family,” anchor Jean Jadhon said on-air.
The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks told NBC12. Gardner is expected to survive her injury.
Marks said Ward’s fiancée, a news producer, was in the control room and saw the tragic scene unfold on the air.
According to NBC12, Parker dated WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst for 9 months, and she began her career as an intern at the station.
It is not clear if the shootings were random acts of violence or if the reporters were targeted by someone who knew them.
Thanks to loyal reader K. Claiborne for the tip.
