A television reporter and a videographer for CBS affiliate WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Va., were shot and killed Wednesday morning as they were doing a live report. The incident was caught on camera and those at the station said they heard six to seven shots and then nothing as the camera fell.
The incident happened around 6:45 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza — a shopping and entertainment center on Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County — where the two were interviewing a woman with a local chamber group. Few details were immediately known, said officials with the WDBJ7.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said a suspect has been identified and is believed to be a disgruntled employee of the TV station. Federal law enforcement officials are aiding in the search for the gunman.
McAuliffe also said that authorities had ruled out an act of terrorism and described the shooting as a “criminal case.” He said police have a photo of the individual and are “in pursuit as we speak.”
Alison Parker, a 24-year-old reporter, and Adam Ward, 27, who worked as a cameraman, photographer and videographer, were killed, according to WDBJ7.
The woman being interviewed was also shot and is still in surgery. Senseless. Supposedly, the shooter was a disgruntled employee.
I don’t know all the details but it sure sounds like another crazy who shouldn’t have had a gun. There simply has to be a way to keep the unstable from having guns and other weapons. This is a heartbreaking story. Both young people had significant others working at the station. The suspect has not yet been apprehended but according to the news, the Virginia State Police know right where he is.
Horrible, just horrible. Guy put videos of the shooting on Twitter.
I hear the gunman is in custody after shooting himself.
He almost made it to Prince William county. He shot himself near Markam, in Fauquier County.
Mrs. BS and I were on our way to Strasburg this morning on I-66 when two State Troopers, with sirens blaring and lights flashing veered thru the traffic heading West at about 80 mph. We looked at each other and didn’t put two and two together. Then another cop went past with lights flashing. Then about three miles further up, we saw about 20+ State Trooper vehicles on the East bound lanes all pointed generally at the median.
We guessed that it might be this morning’s shooter and found out later that we were right.
So you guys were eye witnesses.
Sort of, I guess.