Two news employees who worked for WDBJ, a CBS affiliate in Virginia, were killed Wednesday by a gunman on live television.
According to WDBJ7 News, anchor Alison Parker and producer Adam Ward were on location at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, VA around 6:35am this morning when gunman Vester L. Flanagan ambushed the broadcast, opening fire on them. Sadly, both Alison and Adam were killed in the bizarre shooting incident.
The third victim, Vicki Gardner, was being interviewed by Parker at the time of the shooting. The Roanoke Times is reporting that Gardner was shot in the back and is in emergency surgery.
The alleged shooter, Vester L. Flanagan — AKA Bryce Williams — is a former reporter at WDBJ. Flanagan, recorded the act on video of him shooting the journalists while they were broadcasting live — and then posted it on various social media outlets under his on-air account name ‘Bryce Williams.’
The New York Daily News reports, Flanagan accused the victims — anchor Parker, 24, and cameraman Ward, 27 — of racial prejudice, alluding to complaints filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and WDBJ’s human resources department.
WDBJ reported, quoting state police, that Flanagan shot and killed himself on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County about five hours after the first shootings. The station later confirmed he was alive and in critical condition after shooting himself.
UPDATE: State police now say man suspected of killing two WDBJ7 employees shot himself, and he is still alive http://t.co/XLx3pS2I5X
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Both of the WDBJ7 employees were local residents who grew up in the area and attended colleges nearby. The station confirmed news of the shooting via their Twitter account and is continuing to keep the public updated as more details become available.
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
This photo of the shooting suspect Vester Lee Flanagan, who is said to have previously worked for WDBJ under the name Bryce Williams, has now been released as police continue to investigate.
VA shooter Vester Lee Flanagan is a former employee of @WDBJ7, reported under the name Bryce Williams pic.twitter.com/3qBDgQ684q
— CBS News (@CBSNews) August 26, 2015
Our condolences.
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Image Credits: Facebook/WDBJ
August 26, 2015 -
The sad thing is now on youtube and twitter there are tons of comments about race war and people being ugly to one another. The video the shooter filmed of himself committing the crime is posted online and flooded with nasty comments from both angles. I wish we as a county could do better. Jesus help us all!!
August 26, 2015 -
I feel you.
August 26, 2015 -
This is definitely a horrible tragedy. There is no justification for 2 innocent people to die via murder. I send prayers and condolences to the friends and families of the victims. This incident shows that not only that murder is evil, but we have a long way to go in making a truly just society. While we are here on this Earth, we have to treat our neighbors as ourselves and we should continue to stand up for what is right.
August 26, 2015 -
This is horrible
August 26, 2015 -
I’m only getting bits and pieces of this story because I’m just now getting home from out of town, and nothing is making sense. I’m just thrown. My condolences to all.