Two journalists were fatally shot this morning by a disgruntled former colleague while on assignment for a feature story in Moneta, Virginia. The journalists, reporter Alison Parker and videographer Adam Ward, worked for WDBJ, a CBS affiliate in Roanoke, according to CBS News.
The primary suspect in the shooting is Vester Flanagan, who was known as Bryce Williams during his tenure at the station. Flanagan on Wednesday took to Twitter to launch a tirade against “Adam” and “Alison,” making reference to grievances against both employees. He also posted a first-person video of the shooting on Facebook and Twitter before both social networks took down the footage.
After driving along I-66 in Fauquier County, Virginia, Flanagan shot himself, according to police. He was pronounced dead at the hospital earlier this afternoon, The Washington Post reported.
Earlier Wednesday, news organizations broadcast a video of the shooting that shows Parker interviewing a woman during a live shot for a story about a local recreational plaza. At the end of the video, shots and a scream are heard before the camera falls abruptly.
ABC News reports that the network received a 23-page fax from Flanagan “sometime between last night and this morning” that staffers have turned over to authorities.
Tributes to Parker and Ward began circulating on Twitter as news of their deaths spread:
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video [via New York Daily News] pic.twitter.com/KoNjJOqr7k
— Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnRTV6) August 26, 2015
Alison Parker was a JMU grad. Adam, a Virginia Tech grad. Worked beside both of them. The nicest people you could meet. Just in shock. #WDBJ
— Cameron Austin (@CameronOAustin) August 26, 2015
Jeff Marks, WDBJ’s general manager, appeared on-air Wednesday morning to provide details of the shooting. Parker and Ward’s loss has been felt immediately by the station, he said.
“You can hear people in the newsroom crying,” Marks said. “We cover these things all the time, but this is different…we’ve lost two friends, two co-workers.”
Marks says the station has decided for the moment not to run a video of the shooting, but Parker and Ward’s colleagues will continue reporting on their deaths “through the tears.”
Marks says staff meetings are scheduled this afternoon to update everybody at the station on the ongoing situation.
Chris Hurst, an anchor for WDBJ, was in a relationship with Parker. He mourned her loss on Twitter, calling her “radiant” and said the recent time they spent together were “the best nine months of our lives.”
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
Well-wishers began placing flowers outside WDBJ’s station Wednesday:
Flower deliveries starting to accumulate at WDBJ television station in Roanoke following on-air shooting this morning pic.twitter.com/6owOPAr8n1
— Mike Barber (@RTD_MikeBarber) August 26, 2015
Broadcast journalists have been targeted by criminals in recent months. Last year, KCEN meteorologist Patrick Crawford was shot while leaving the station in Bruceville-Eddy, Texas. Multiple journalists have also been mugged for their valuable equipment while on the job in the Bay Area.
Correction: An earlier version of this story said Parker and Ward were engaged. In fact, Ward was engaged to a morning show producer at WDBJ. Parker was in a relationship with Hurst, an anchor for WDBJ.
Related: Covering Your Own Story: A Conversation with WDBJ Staff
