News Digest

‘I’m happy to be here’: Virginia shooting survivor makes first public comments

The woman who survived an on-air shooting that killed two TV journalists in Virginia says the gunman never said a word. In her first public comments since last month’s shooting, Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce executive director Vicki Gardner spoke with Fox News’ Greta Van Susteren in an interview broadcast Tuesday night. Gardner said that while being interviewed on live TV August 26, she was paying attention to the camera but noticed something down the walkway.

I just saw movement and then gunfire. Lots and lots of gunfire. From that point it was very chaotic.

Vicki Gardner said during her first interview since the shooting.

Vester Flanagan walked up and opened fire, killing WDBJ-TV cameraman Adam Ward and reporter Alison Parker. Both died of gunshot wounds to the head and body. Gardner thought she was next. Gardner said after the initial shots, she instinctively dropped to the ground and got into the fetal position, pretending to be dead. The gunman returned and shot her in the back. Flanagan fatally shot himself five hours later after a police chase. Gardner said she thought a bullet had gone through her spine and she would be paralyzed. But that didn’t happen. Doctors removed a kidney from Gardner and part of her colon. She was released from a Roanoke hospital September 7.

I realized it was quiet and everybody was down. And I didn’t know where (Flanagan) was. I felt as though the next shot — I knew — the next shot he was just going to shoot me in the head because that was what he was doing.

Vicki Gardner.