News Digest

Reporter and photographer killed as gunman opens fire during live TV broadcast

Two journalists have died as a gunman opened fire on a news crew during a live broadcast in Virginia. Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and videographer Adam Ward, 27, died in the shooting during Wednesday morning’s broadcast for CBS affiliate WDBJ. Gunfire rang out as Ms Parker conducted an interview in Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta. Screaming was heard as the camera dropped to the ground and the audience got the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to pointing a gun toward the downed cameraman. The broadcast cuts back to the studio where anchor Kimberly McBroom is sitting in stunned silence. The gunman remains at large and schools in the area were placed on lock down.

We do not know the motive. We do not know who the killer is.

WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks

Vicki Gardner, head of the SML Chamber of Commerce who was being interviewed, was reportedly shot in the back and was in surgery. However during his station’s coverage of the incident, WDBJ station manager Jeff Marks said he did not think she was injured. “We do know the Franklin County sheriff … they are working very diligently to track down both the motive and the person responsible for this terrible crime against two fine journalists,” Mr Marks added. “Our hearts are broken,” he said on air, explaining that the victim’s colleagues were “holding back tears." Another journalist at the anchor’s desk said Mr Ward was engaged to be married to a morning show producer at WDBJ and recently told her, "I’m going to get out of news. I think I’m going to do something else.”

Alison was a rock star. You throw anything at that girl and she could do it.

Anchor Kimberly McBroom