Two journalists were killed in a shooting on a live local television newscast in Virginia early Wednesday morning. A manhunt was quickly underway, and the Associated Press reported the governor said an arrest of the suspect is “imminent.”
Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were pronounced dead after the shooting in Moneta, Va., their TV station, WDBJ, announced.
Horrific video of the incident was posted online. It shows Parker doing a report at the Bridgewater Plaza on Smith Mountain Lake, at about 6:45 a.m. Gunshots then rang out, a woman could be heard screaming and the camera fell to the ground before the station cut back to the television studio.
CNN and MSNBC both broadcast a purported photo of the gunman, captured from footage of the event.
Manhunt underway for gunman in killing of 2 WDBJ journalists. Still image from footage: http://t.co/nmMlOGmT8V pic.twitter.com/vLOMJisEZz
— CNN Breaking News (@cnnbrk) August 26, 2015
In an interview on radio station WTOP, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D-VA) said authorities believe the suspect is a “disgruntled employee” who is known to police.
Parker was interviewing Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, when the shooting occurred. WSLS reported that Gardner was in surgery at Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
The video is below. WARNING: It is graphic and difficult to watch:
The U.S. Department of Justice’s AFT Bureau tweeted from its verified account that a manhunt is underway for the shooting suspect.
WDBJ7’s general manager and anchors announced Parker’s and Ward’s deaths on air, and were eulogizing the journalists during the broadcast. Ward was 27, and Parker had just turned 24, and both were originally from the station’s viewing area, WDBJ7 reported.
Watch the on-air announcement below:
The station also tweeted support for Parker and Ward:
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
During an interview on CNN, General Manager Jeffrey Marks confirmed that today was Parker’s last day with the station. Marks also said that Ward’s fiancee Melissa Ott was in the control room during the broadcast, and saw the shooting happen live.
McAuliffe (D-VA) tweeted about the incident, calling the deaths “senseless murders.”
Heartbroken over senseless murders today in Smith Mountain Lake. State Police on scene working w/ local law agencies to capture suspect.
— Terry McAuliffe (@GovernorVA) August 26, 2015
Chris Hurst, an anchor at WDBJ7, tweeted Wednesday that he had just moved in with Parker.
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 (@chrishurstwdbj) 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 (@chrishurstwdbj) 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 (@chrishurstwdbj) 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 (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
Words. Cannot. Describe.
Goddamnit… my hands can’t stop shaking. Wow. Wow. Prayers and thoughts go out to the families.
Horrifying.
Our country is sick to allow all the guns and the carnage that follows.
If it was Donald Trump being interviewed he’d have been screaming at them to go back to Roanoke. Throw journalists in with immigrants, women, blacks, gays, Planned Parenthood and Muslims that better increasingly watch their backs as the public boards the Trump Crazy Train.