WDBJ Reporter, Cameraman Killed in Shooting on Live Broadcast

WDBJ

Related: Industry Reacts to Virginia TV Killings

WDBJ Roanoke reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were shot and killed during a live broadcast Wednesday morning.

CBS News has reported Vester Flanagan has been identified as the suspect in the shooting. CNN reported that Virginia authorities were looking for Flanagan, a former reporter at the station who had been fired, in connection with the shooting.

Multiple sources have reported that Flanagan has shot himself, though police have not confirmed yet.

The pair were doing an interview with a member of the chamber of commerce at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia at 6:45 a.m. when a man opened fire with a handgun.The general manager of the station, Jeff Marks, appeared on CNN to talk about the incident, saying it was senseless and devastating.

Marks said he was in his car when the news director called to tell him what had happened on air.

Marks said it appears that Ward was shot first, then Parker as she tried to run away. Marks said a pastor was at the station consoling staffers as they tried to continue to do their jobs while grieving.

Marks said this was to have been Parker's last day. She was leaving to join another station in Charlotte, N.C.

CNN aired a chilling photo of the suspect that came from Wards own camera as the gunman stood over him pointing the gun downward.

CNN aired the video, but limited it to once an hour with a disclaimer about its disturbing nature. The video is also on the CNN website with a disclaimer. A spokesperson said they did not think anything was being edited out.

Parker was an intern at the station before being named the morning reporter, teamed with Ward. She also formerly worked at WCTI Jacksonville, N.C., and was a graduate of James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va., in 2012, where she studied journalism and got hands-on experience in news producing at ABC affiliate WHSV. She was also news editor for JMUs newspaper, The Breeze.

Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe, in an interview with WTOP radio in Washington, said he had been on the phone with state police and they were in active pursuit of the suspect. He said they knew who the suspect was and he appeared to be a disgruntled former station employee.

CNN was reporting that Flanagan had posted his own video of the shooting on Twitter and that the account had just been suspended.

ABC News reported that overnight it had received a 23-page fax from someone identifying themselves as Bryce Williams, an on-air name used by Flanagan. It did not identify the comments, but said it had turned it over to authorities.

John Eggerton contributed to this report.

LINK:	http://www.broadcastingcable.com/news/local-tv/wdbj-reporter-cameraman...
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