Two American journalists have been shot dead during a live television report, their employer has confirmed.
Alison Parker, 24, a reporter, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were reporting live at around 6.45am (11.45am GMT) this morning from the Bridgewater Plaza in Virginia.
The shooting was captured on video, though the actual moments of death cannot be seen. Viewer discretion is advised.
During the broadcast for WDBJ7, several loud bangs could be heard before the camera tumbled to the ground, apparently showing a person moving from behind the camera’s initial view. The news station then cut back to a clearly-shocked newscaster in the studio.
“It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7’s Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning,” the station said. “We love you, Alison and Adam.”
The shooting was captured on video, though the actual moments of death cannot be seen. Viewer discretion is advised.
https://youtu.be/VSE3iqU8WCg
The station said the incident happened at a shopping centre. Law enforcement officials are on the scene, and told NBC News the gunman is on the loose. Police also confirmed a third person was injured in the shooting.
Jeffrey A Marks, general manager of WDBJ-TV, said: “It is my very, very sad duty to report that we have determined through the help of the police and our own employees that Alison and Adam died this morning shortly after 6.45 after the shots rang out.”
“We do not know the motive, we do not know who the killer is.
“I just got off the phone with the state police they are working very diligently to track down both the motive and the person responsible for this crimes against two very fine journalists.”
He added: “I cannot tell you how much they were loved, Alison and Adam, by the WDBJ7 team.
“Our hearts are broken and our sympathy goes to our entire team but also their parents and families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward, who were just out doing their job today covering a story near Smith Mountain Lake.
“We have members of the team holding back tears frankly.”
Fellow reporter at the station, Christ Hurst, wrote on Twitter that he had been dating his co-worker Alison for several months, and they had just moved in together.
“I am numb … 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,” he wrote.
“She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back.”
The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the south-west and central part of the state. The shopping centre is just off Smith Mountain Lake.
Moneta is about 25 miles south-east of Roanoke.
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