Two journalists were shot during a live TV broadcast in rural Virginia early Wednesday morning by a suspect that is believed to be a former employee of the station.
Federal authorities report that he shot himself hours before being apprehended. He “has a pulse” but is in “very critical condition” according to State police, reported WDBJ7.
Cameraman Adam Ward, 27, and TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, were conducting a live TV interview in Bedford County, Va., when shots were fired, prompting both the reporter and her interview subject to flee.
The camera was dropped as screams and gun shots continued. The station cut back to the news anchor, whose jaw dropped in astonishment, the disturbing footage posted online shows.
The two worked for WDBJ-7 news, and their station has confirmed the deaths.
On WTOP radio Wednesday morning, Gov. Terry McAuliffe, D-Va., said that they believe the suspect knew the victims and the shooting was deliberate.
“We know who the suspect is. We believe it’s a disgruntled employee from the TV station, is what we believe right now,” said McAuliffe, who added that the shooting was not terrorism-related.
The suspect, whose on-screen name was Bryce Williams, tweeted photos of the shooting from his perspective late Wednesday morning from a Twitter account he created two weeks ago. He also accused Parker of racism. His Twitter account has now been suspended.
On air, anchors choked up as they discussed their deaths. Producer Melissa Ott was engaged to cameraman Ward, and was reportedly in the control room when the shooting happened. Evening anchor Chris Hurst tweeted that he was planning on marrying Parker.
“I am numb. We were together almost nine months,” wrote Hurst on Twitter. “It was the best nine months of our lives.”
Three people were shot in the incident at Bridgewater Plaza, according to the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department, and the police are still looking for the suspect.
From NBC News:
Anchors choked up on air as they confirmed the tragedy. The station’s general manager, Jeffrey Marks, said Parker and Ward were “special people” who did “great work every day.”
“How can this individual have robbed these families, the families of Allison and Adam, of their lives and their happiness and their love for whatever reason?” an emotional Marks asked. “They would brighten up a room every morning.”
Past shootings have led to national debates over whether access to guns should be restricted further, but so far, supporters of that idea have been thwarted by congressional Republicans. After the June shooting at a church in South Carolina, President Obama said that tragedy happened because “someone who wanted to inflict harm had no trouble getting their hands on a gun.”
“At some point, we as a country will have to reckon with the fact that this type of mass violence does not happen in other advanced countries,” Obama added. “It doesn’t happen in other places with this kind of frequency. And it is in our power to do something about it.”
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Washington Examiner has decided against showing the video of the shooting. It can be viewed here.
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
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
Yes, thank you! RT @ShawnRTV6: How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video pic.twitter.com/5L46G4UJPe
— Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent) August 26, 2015
Authorities have name and license plate number for #WDBJ shooting suspect as manhunt continues http://t.co/yGNSU3ATX8 pic.twitter.com/G6sDktBUbl
— CNN (@CNN) August 26, 2015
