We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
A reporter and videographer for the CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia were fatally shot on the air Wednesday morning.
UPDATE, 11:45 a.m.: The suspect has died.
#BREAKING: Apparent shooter in #WDBJ shooting has died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound: http://t.co/VaN3rZULrl http://t.co/UR0h5ig0lF
— The Situation Room (@CNNSitRoom) August 26, 2015
UPDATE, 9:12 a.m.: The suspect in the case shot himself, but is alive.
Police believe the suspect in the shooting of the TV news crew in Roanoke Vester Flanagan has committed suicide.
— Frank Volpicella (@FrankV_CBS46) August 26, 2015
Original Story:
Alison Parker and videographer Adam Ward were in the middle of a live report about tourism just before 7 a.m. when a shooter opened fire, killing both of them and injuring their interview subject, Vicki Gardner – who was shot in the back and in surgery.
The disturbing incident was caught on camera and is extremely disturbing.
Screen grab being shared on social media shows apparent black-clad gunman opening fire on @WDBJ7 crew in Moneta, Va. pic.twitter.com/sqW1C2NwQy
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 26, 2015
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe says that authorities believe the gunman “was a disgruntled employee.” WUSA 9 reports the suspect is Vester Lee Flanagan.
How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video [via New York Daily News] pic.twitter.com/KoNjJOqr7k
— Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnWTVM9) August 26, 2015
Both victims were engaged. Ward’s fiancee, Melissa Ott, is a morning show producer at WDBJ. WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst tweeted that he and Parker were in a relationship, and recently moved in together. “I am numb,” he writes.
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
