WDBJ Journalist Alison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were shot and killed during a live television broadcast Wednesday morning in southwest Virginia, reports Fox News.
#BREAKING: 2 members of Virginia TV news crew shot dead http://t.co/q2NXVRu2Jp
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 26, 2015Parker and Ward were airing a broadcast on tourism in the area when they were shot during an active shooting situation in Bridgewater Plaza, in Moneta, VA.
Stay tuned for updates.
Update: A very disturbing update for our readers. A screenshot is circulating social media that appears to capture a photo of the gunman before he shot and killed Parker and Ward.
Here is a clearer photo of the gunman seen in video opening fire and killing @WDBJ7 crew. pic.twitter.com/IpZThAZ8jf
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 26, 2015Update II: Local schools near the tragedy are on lock down as authorities search for the gunman. WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks responded to the tragic news and dedicated a segment this morning to the young journalists:
“Our hearts are broken,” Marks said. “They were out doing their job today.”
“They are working very diligently to track down the person responsible for this terrible crime against these two fine journalists,” he added of the police investigation into the shooting. “We do not know what the motive is. We do not know who the shooter is.”
Update III: The woman being interviewed during today's fatal broadcast, Local Chamber of Commerce official Vicki Gardner, was also shot, reports Fox News. She is currently recovering from surgery and is in stable condition.
Update IV: Other news stations in major cities are upping security measures after today's tragedy.
NYPD steps up security at NYC TV Stations http://t.co/FPzZrQaGYP http://t.co/7i7ujsgWwd
— TODAY (@TODAYshow) August 26, 2015Update V: The shooter is reportedly a disgruntled former employee of WDBJ.
JUST IN: Va. Gov. Terry McAuliffe said on the radio that the Va. shooter is a disgruntled former employee.
— FOX8 WGHP (@myfox8) August 26, 2015Update VI: Police have reportedly ID'd the suspect. His name has since been corrected to Vester Lee Flanagan. He was known to local viewers as Bryce Williams.
UPDATE: Authorities looking for Lester Lee Flanighan in shooting of TV reporter and photographer http://t.co/W5HJnbNIEW
— FOX59 News (@FOX59) August 26, 2015Update VII: In another sickening turn of events, it appears the shooter is actively posting on social media, including his own video of the shooting and motives for the attack. He allegedly accused the reporters of being racist. Twitter and Facebook has since shut down the accounts.
BREAKING: Suspected Virginia shooter id-ed as Vester Lee Flanagan & posted video of deadly shooting on social media http://t.co/4zfbnFMvmg
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) August 26, 2015
Update VIII: The murderer has shot himself, local news stations are reporting. He is in critical condition.
#BREAKING Reports: Alleged #WDBJ shooter Vester Flanagan has shot himself: http://t.co/Psk0FIEp31
— WHSVnews (@WHSVnews) August 26, 2015Update IX: The suspect is dead.
BREAKING: Official: Suspect in shooting of reporter, cameraman during live broadcast dies at hospital.
— The Associated Press (@AP) August 26, 2015
At a press conference today in Hardy, VA, authorities described the car chase that ensued after today’s fatal shooting. When police located the suspect’s vehicle, he refused to stop and sped away from a trooper who tried to stop him. He eventually ran his car off the road and a trooper discovered him with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital in Fairfax, VA, where he later died.
Police located the #WDBJ suspect's vehicle and recovered it as evidence, according to Franklin County police. pic.twitter.com/FWUtGSBkcM
— Fox News (@FoxNews) August 26, 2015
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