US TV reporter and cameraman fatally shot during live report in Virginia

[webfact]

Manager: 2 US TV station workers fatally shot on air

MONETA, Virginia (AP) — The general manager of a TV station in Virginia says two crew members were fatally shot on air in central Virginia.

Jeffrey A. Marks, general manager of WDBJ-TV, identified the two killed as Alison Parker and Adam Ward.

The station says in tweets and in a story on its website that the incident happened at a shopping center. The station says law enforcement officials are on the scene.

The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shopping mall is just off Smith Mountain Lake.

Moneta is southeast of Roanoke.


-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-27

[webfact]

TV reporter and cameraman fatally shot during live report in Virginia
By Dana Hedgpeth
The Washington Post

We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

CBS News said in a Twitter message that a gunman killed a reporter and a videographer in a shooting while they were doing a live TV report in Southwest Virginia.

In its story, CBS news said Alison Parker and Adam Ward worked for CBS Roanoke affiliate WDBJ-TV. They said Parker’s mother confirmed to CBS the news of her death.

The shooting happened at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, which is located in Franklin County.

JUST IN: A gunman killed a reporter and cameraman in a shooting during a live TV report, CBS News confirms: http://t.co/35anfLh3ab

— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 26, 2015

The incident, caught on video, happened around 7:30 a.m. In the video, a woman is interviewing another woman about tourism when shots ring out and screams can be heard.

Full story: https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/local/wp/2015/08/26/tv-camera-crew-caught-in-active-shooter-situation-in-southwest-virginia/

-- The Washington Post 2015-08-27

[JetsetBkk]

Horrible video available on Liveleak.com

RIP the two crew.

[Lite Beer]

The Latest: Video shows shooting of 2 TV station employees

MONETA, Va. (AP) — The latest on the fatal on-air shooting of two TV station employees in central Virginia (all times local):

9:40 a.m.

After the on-air fatal shooting of a two of its employees, the station's general manager appeared on air and called it a terrible crime, saying authorities don't know who the gunman is.

WDBJ-TV general manager Jeffrey A. Marks called the Wednesday morning incident at a shopping center "a terrible crime against two fine journalists."

Marks said on air that neither the station nor officials know the motive for the shooting or any identify of a suspect. He says he has talked with authorities and they are working diligently to find out.

In the video of the incident, as the camera falls to the ground, it captures a fleeting image of a man in black pants and a blue top who appears to be holding a handgun.

The station has identified the two killed as reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

Marks said on air: "I cannot tell you how much they were loved. Alison and Adam."

"Our hearts are broken."

___

9:40 a.m.

Video shows the fatal shooting of two TV station employees who were killed in an on-air shooting in central Virginia.

In the video from the Wednesday incident, a female reporter is interviewing someone about tourism on Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County. She was smiling when suddenly at least eight shots were heard. The camera appeared to be dropped on the ground. The reporter can be heard screaming.

As the camera falls to the ground, it captures a fleeting image of a man in black pants and a blue top who appears to be holding a handgun.

The station then switches back to a shot of an anchor back at the station, who has a shocked expression on her face.

In tweets and on its website, WDBJ-TV identified the two killed as reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shopping mall where the incident happened is just off Smith Mountain Lake.

Moneta is about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.

___

9:30 a.m.

After the on-air fatal shooting of two TV station employees in central Virginia, a picture of the two victims has started to emerge.

WDBJ-TV, based in Roanoke, says reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were killed in the Wednesday morning shooting at a shopping center on a lake in Moneta.

According to the station website, Parker was a morning reporter. She graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and was news editor of its recognized newspaper, The Breeze. She also had been an intern at WDBJ-TV.

The TV station also linked to her Facebook page, which says Parker spent most of her live outside Martinsville, Virginia.

Parker previously worked at WCTI NewsChannel 12 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune. She was an avid kayaker and attended community theater events in her spare time.

The station says Ward was 27 and a graduate of Virginia Tech.

___

9:25 a.m.

Video shows the fatal shooting of two TV station employees who were killed in an on-air shooting in central Virginia.

In the video from the Wednesday incident, a female reporter is interviewing someone about tourism on Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County. She was smiling when suddenly at least eight shots were heard. The camera appeared to be dropped on the ground. The reporter can be heard screaming.

The station then switches back to a shot of an anchor back at the station, who has a shocked expression on her face.

In tweets and on its website, WDBJ-TV identified the two killed as reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shopping mall where the incident happened is just off Smith Mountain Lake.

Moneta is about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.

___

9:20 a.m.

The TV station employees who were killed in an on-air shooting in central Virginia have been identified as a 27-year-old and a 24-year-old.

In tweets and on its website, WDBJ-TV identified the two killed Wednesday as Alison Parker and Adam Ward. The station's website says Ward was 27 and a graduate of Virginia Tech. Parker just turned 24 and attended James Madison University.

In a tweet, the station says "We love you, Alison and Adam."

It was not clear who the shooter was.

The station says in tweets and in a story on its website that the incident happened at a shopping center. The station says law enforcement officials are on the scene.

The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shopping mall is just off Smith Mountain Lake.

Moneta is about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.

___

9:15 a.m.

The general manager of a TV station in Virginia says two crew members were fatally shot on air in central Virginia.

Jeffrey A. Marks, general manager of WDBJ-TV, identified the two killed as Alison Parker and Adam Ward.

The station says in tweets and in a story on its website that the incident happened Wednesday morning at a shopping center. The station says law enforcement officials are on the scene.

The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shopping mall is just off Smith Mountain Lake.

Moneta is about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.

-- (c) Associated Press 2015-08-26

[stoneyboy]

Only in America.

Very disturbing images on live TV.

Condolences to the family of those who died doing their job.

[Lite Beer]

RT@W7VOA: Videographer Adam Ward managed to get a shot of the gunman who killed him and @AParkerWDBJ7 http://t.co/o8QOdtAxEV

[Lite Beer]

RT@RT_America: URGENT: Photo of gunman seen in video opening fire and killing @WDBJ7 crew http://t.co/5hzaBgMnUk http://t.co/EY4pGMIIwf

[MrBrilliant]

How horrific. I hope they catch the killer and strap him to the gurney.....

[2fishin2]

Only in America.

Very disturbing images on live TV.

Condolences to the family of those who died doing their job.

What is wrong with people like you? Only in America? Every country in the world has senseless killings Give me an effin break! Reporters, clergy and hospital workers have no reason to be targets of anyone. Killing of any kind is intolerable. So sad.

[Linky]

Only in America.

Very disturbing images on live TV.

Condolences to the family of those who died doing their job.

What is wrong with people like you? Only in America? Every country in the world has senseless killings Give me an effin break! Reporters, clergy and hospital workers have no reason to be targets of anyone. Killing of any kind is intolerable. So sad.

Because the US is the gold medal winner for instances like this. Unfortunately it no longer comes as a surprise.

[stoneyboy]

Only in America.

Very disturbing images on live TV.

Condolences to the family of those who died doing their job.

What is wrong with people like you? Only in America? Every country in the world has senseless killings Give me an effin break! Reporters, clergy and hospital workers have no reason to be targets of anyone. Killing of any kind is intolerable. So sad.

Maybe so but you can not buy a gun in Walmart/Asda in the UK.

It obviously doesn't help the cause.

[Seastallion]

What about the interviewee? I hope that in her case no news is good news.

[Lite Beer]

RT@W7VOA: "It may have been a disgruntled employee...they have identified the suspect," says @GovernorVA re on air killing of two @WDBJ7 journalists.

[TacoHell]

the alleged shooters creepy facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009740628378

[55Jay]

police chasing suspect on highway

[Maestro]

The woman being interviewed on the roof of a shopping center was Vicki Gardner, a representative of the local chamber of commerce.

[Maestro]

What about the interviewee? I hope that in her case no news is good news.

Vicki Gardner was shot in the back and brought to a hospital.

Source: http://hollywoodlife.com/2015/08/26/virginia-shooting-interviewee-shot-vicki-gardner-hospital-surgery/

[vogie]

The interviewer and cameraman were apparently engaged, maybe a personal shooting?

[peterjackson]

the alleged shooters creepy facebook page https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009740628378

He has uploaded a video of him killing the reporter in cold blood.

What a sicko.

[JetsetBkk]

The Facebook and Twitter pages have been removed, but the video that he took himself before killing the couple is on Liveleak.

[Exsexyman]

The Facebook and Twitter pages have been removed, but the video that he took himself before killing the couple is on Liveleak.

Is this the video that you described as "Horrible" in your earlier post? If it is "Horrible" why are you so desperate for people to see it that you point people towards it? Twice! Truly bizarre! And not a little sick.

[JetsetBkk]

The Facebook and Twitter pages have been removed, but the video that he took himself before killing the couple is on Liveleak.

Is this the video that you described as "Horrible" in your earlier post? If it is "Horrible" why are you so desperate for people to see it that you point people towards it? Twice! Truly bizarre! And not a little sick.

You don't have to look at it. This is a news forum. Get over it.

For those who want the news, the suspect is Vester Lee Flanagan of Roanoke who had worked at a different TV station.

Some reports are that he has now shot himself.

Edited August 26, 2015 by JetsetBkk

[Usernames]

Apparently, the shooting was racially motivated, but CNN and the mainstream media seem to be covering that up. Surprise, huh? http://heavy.com/news/2015/08/lester-lee-flanagan-flanighan-flanigan-wdbj-tv-disgruntled-employee-virginia-shooting-suspect-cameraman-photos-video-chase-gun-gunman-arrested/

[JetsetBkk]

The interviewer and cameraman were apparently engaged, maybe a personal shooting?

But not to each other.

[Chicog]

The killer has now shot himself in the head whilst in a moving car.

[Chicog]

Horrible video available on Liveleak.com

RIP the two crew.

It's been on Youtube for hours.

[NeverSure]

CBS News TV is saying the perp shot himself, in critical condition, but not dead.

[PHP87]

CBS News TV is saying the perp shot himself, in critical condition, but not dead.

I hope he is greatly suffering.

[NeverSure]

Photos Of Alleged Virginia Shooter: Vester Flanagan AKA Bryce Williams

Credit, story

[F430murci]

Only in America.

Very disturbing images on live TV.

Condolences to the family of those who died doing their job.

What is wrong with people like you? Only in America? Every country in the world has senseless killings Give me an effin break! Reporters, clergy and hospital workers have no reason to be targets of anyone. Killing of any kind is intolerable. So sad.

Because the US is the gold medal winner for instances like this. Unfortunately it no longer comes as a surprise.

Happens all over the world, but perhaps gets more publicity in America because it is more shocking when it happens in America.

What is really sad about people like you is that people like you don't care about the human tragedy but somehow get personal satisfaction about seeing horrible things happen to good people that live in America.