Moneta, Va. – A 24-year-old reporter and 27-year-old photographer from a local news station WDBJ in Roanoke have been killed by a shooter that appeared during a live news interview Wednesday morning, WDBJ confirms.
The shooting occurred at Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia.
It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7's Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning.http://t.co/oC9s4vLJXV
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
During a live interview from Bridgewater Plaza, approximately eight gunshots are heard as reporter Alison Parker is seen interviewing someone on screen. The camera, presumably held by photographer Adam Ward, then drops to the ground and the broadcast cuts back to the anchor desk.
The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back and is in surgery, according to Barb Nocera, the chamber’s special projects manager.
The video captures an image of the what’s believed to be the suspected shooter before it cuts away.
Authorities from Bedford County, Franklin County and Virginia State Police have responded.
“We do not know the motive. We do not know who the killer is,” WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks said. “We do know the Franklin County sheriff … they are working very diligently to track down both the motive and the person responsible for this terrible crime against two fine journalists,” he said during the station’s coverage of the shooting.
WHSV in Harrisonburg reports that the suspect in the shooting is being chased north on I-81 at this time.
Governor Terry McAuliffe told WTOP the suspect has been identified and is believed to be a disgruntled employee of the TV station.
“We do not know the motive. We do not know who the killer is,” WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks said. “We do know the Franklin County sheriff … they are working very diligently to track down both the motive and the person responsible for this terrible crime against two fine journalists,” he said during the station’s coverage of the shooting.
As the situation was unfolding, WDBJ tweeted out that they are trying to figure out what happened and that law enforcement is on scene.
Law enforcement is on scene at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta. The incident involves a WDBJ7 crew. This is all we know. http://t.co/hmQe15vOUk
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
This situation is currently ongoing and we will post updates as soon as they become available.
http://www.aol.com/article/2015/08/26/developing-shooting-during-live-news-interview/21227613/
Locals and relatives of the alleged victims need to check it out. It may be real, or it may be another anti-gun hoax.
Beat me again, Angel. 🙂
Had just copied the link to send (RT, though), and it popped up in my e-mail just as I was going to.
“We do not know the motive. We do not know who the killer is,” WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks said.”
Someone who finally got sick & tired of the lies & propaganda those pukes spew?
I’ll shed no tears.
Unsurprisingly the shooter has died from his self-inflicted wound, oh and he also posted a manifesto. All bullshit.