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| Virginia shooting suspect in hospital after journalists killed during broadcast | Virginia shooting suspect in hospital after journalists killed during broadcast |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A suspect is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after allegedly killing two members of a news crew and injuring a third person in Moneta, Virginia, in a shooting that took place during a live TV broadcast on Wednesday morning. | A suspect is in the hospital with life-threatening injuries after allegedly killing two members of a news crew and injuring a third person in Moneta, Virginia, in a shooting that took place during a live TV broadcast on Wednesday morning. |
| Related: Virginia shooting: police have identified gunman who killed news crew – live | |
| WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed. Interviewee Vicki Gardner, who was also shot, is undergoing surgery in hospital. | WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed. Interviewee Vicki Gardner, who was also shot, is undergoing surgery in hospital. |
| A shocking video of the shooting was subsequently posted on Twitter and Facebook. | A shocking video of the shooting was subsequently posted on Twitter and Facebook. |
| Virginia state police said that they spotted a “suspect vehicle” heading eastbound on Interstate 66 and attempted to stop it. “The suspect vehicle refused to stop and sped away from the trooper,” the police force reported on Facebook. “Minutes later, the suspect vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound. | Virginia state police said that they spotted a “suspect vehicle” heading eastbound on Interstate 66 and attempted to stop it. “The suspect vehicle refused to stop and sped away from the trooper,” the police force reported on Facebook. “Minutes later, the suspect vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound. |
| “He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.” | “He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries.” |
| The police force added: “The male driver is believed to be the same male subject who shot three people this morning in Franklin County during a television news interview.” | The police force added: “The male driver is believed to be the same male subject who shot three people this morning in Franklin County during a television news interview.” |
| Virginia’s governor, Terry McAuliffe, had said that police believed the suspect was a “disgruntled employee” from the station. | Virginia’s governor, Terry McAuliffe, had said that police believed the suspect was a “disgruntled employee” from the station. |
| Virginia state police have announced a press conference. | |
| A Twitter account purporting to be run by the gunman posted a video of the shooting, as well as one of the lead-up to the attack. Both were posted as one file on Facebook. | A Twitter account purporting to be run by the gunman posted a video of the shooting, as well as one of the lead-up to the attack. Both were posted as one file on Facebook. |
| The videos, posted in the name of Bryce Williams, the name journalist Vester Lee Flanagan reported under for WDBJ7, show an approach to Parker, Gardner and Ward on the deck where they were filming an interview. | The videos, posted in the name of Bryce Williams, the name journalist Vester Lee Flanagan reported under for WDBJ7, show an approach to Parker, Gardner and Ward on the deck where they were filming an interview. |
| The three continue reporting live and do not acknowledge the approaching person. The person filming then angles alongside the cameraman and aims a handgun directly at Parker, who does not appear to notice. | The three continue reporting live and do not acknowledge the approaching person. The person filming then angles alongside the cameraman and aims a handgun directly at Parker, who does not appear to notice. |
| A second video shows the gunman shooting at Parker as she runs away from the shots. | A second video shows the gunman shooting at Parker as she runs away from the shots. |
| The video then cuts. The Twitter account has now been suspended. Other tweets stated: “I filmed the shooting see Facebook,” “Adam went to [human resources] on me after working with me one time!!!” and “Alison made racist comments. EEOC report filed. They hired her after that???” | The video then cuts. The Twitter account has now been suspended. Other tweets stated: “I filmed the shooting see Facebook,” “Adam went to [human resources] on me after working with me one time!!!” and “Alison made racist comments. EEOC report filed. They hired her after that???” |
| Jeffrey Marks, WDBJ’s president and general manager, said Flanagan was a journalist who had been fired from the station, and had had to be escorted out by police afterwards. | |
| Marks described him as “an unhappy man” and “difficult to work with,” always “looking out for people to say things he could take offense to”. | |
| “Eventually after many incidents of his anger ... we dismissed him. He did not take that well,” Marks explained. | |
| Marks said Williams alleged that other employees made racially tinged comments to him, but said his complaint to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claim was dismissed and none of his allegations could be corroborated. | |
| “We think they were fabricated,” Marks said. | |
| The shooting occurred around 6.45am ET, when the news crew from WDBJ7 local news was conducting a live broadcast about local tourism at at the Bridgewater Plaza, near Smith Mountain Lake. | The shooting occurred around 6.45am ET, when the news crew from WDBJ7 local news was conducting a live broadcast about local tourism at at the Bridgewater Plaza, near Smith Mountain Lake. |
| They were interviewing Gardner, a representative from the local chamber of commerce, when up to eight shots rang out. Screams followed as the camera fell to the ground. | They were interviewing Gardner, a representative from the local chamber of commerce, when up to eight shots rang out. Screams followed as the camera fell to the ground. |
| The scene was broadcast live to residents Roanoke, where the TV station is based, as well as those living in nearby towns in rural Virginia. | The scene was broadcast live to residents Roanoke, where the TV station is based, as well as those living in nearby towns in rural Virginia. |
| The live broadcast was cut off shortly after the sound of shots and screaming. Producers switched back to the WDBJ7 local studio, where a shocked anchor was staring at the camera. | The live broadcast was cut off shortly after the sound of shots and screaming. Producers switched back to the WDBJ7 local studio, where a shocked anchor was staring at the camera. |
| Police were aided by images of the gunman that were captured moments after Ward was fatally shot and fell to the ground. They showed a man dressed in black, apparently holding a gun pointed directly at the cameraman. | Police were aided by images of the gunman that were captured moments after Ward was fatally shot and fell to the ground. They showed a man dressed in black, apparently holding a gun pointed directly at the cameraman. |
| “Today was just like any other day,” anchor Kim McBroom said of Parker and Ward on their station’s morning broadcast. “They did great work every day and put their all into everything they did. | “Today was just like any other day,” anchor Kim McBroom said of Parker and Ward on their station’s morning broadcast. “They did great work every day and put their all into everything they did. |
| “They were special people. They would lighten up a room.” | “They were special people. They would lighten up a room.” |
| With crying on the set of the studio audible, another anchor, Jean Jadhon, described Parker as “a rock star. She was a professional, so much fun and so kind.” | With crying on the set of the studio audible, another anchor, Jean Jadhon, described Parker as “a rock star. She was a professional, so much fun and so kind.” |
| Jeff Marks, the station’s general manager, recounted what police had told the station. “Someone with a gun, we believe it was a man, barged into where they were and fired several shots, six or seven, it sounded like. We heard screaming, and then we heard nothing, the camera fell. | Jeff Marks, the station’s general manager, recounted what police had told the station. “Someone with a gun, we believe it was a man, barged into where they were and fired several shots, six or seven, it sounded like. We heard screaming, and then we heard nothing, the camera fell. |
| “The scene was described to us as chaos.” | “The scene was described to us as chaos.” |
| He expressed disbelief at the shooting: “How can this individual have robbed these families of Adam and Alison of their happiness and their love, for whatever reason?” | He expressed disbelief at the shooting: “How can this individual have robbed these families of Adam and Alison of their happiness and their love, for whatever reason?” |
| Parker originally joined the station as an intern, and had graduated from James Madison University in 2012. According to her profile on the site, she enjoyed kayaking and local theater. | Parker originally joined the station as an intern, and had graduated from James Madison University in 2012. According to her profile on the site, she enjoyed kayaking and local theater. |
| Ward was described as a gregarious, hardworking photojournalist, an avid fan of Virginia Tech and longtime employee of the station. He was engaged to Melissa Ott, a producer on the station who was celebrating her last day on Wednesday before going to a new job in Charlotte. He had planned to join her there and find a new job with her. | Ward was described as a gregarious, hardworking photojournalist, an avid fan of Virginia Tech and longtime employee of the station. He was engaged to Melissa Ott, a producer on the station who was celebrating her last day on Wednesday before going to a new job in Charlotte. He had planned to join her there and find a new job with her. |
| Parker had recently celebrated a birthday and was dating WDBJ7 reporter Chris Hurst. | Parker had recently celebrated a birthday and was dating WDBJ7 reporter Chris Hurst. |
| Hurst tweeted on Wednesday morning that although “we didn’t share this publicly” he and Parker “were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. | Hurst tweeted on Wednesday morning that although “we didn’t share this publicly” he and Parker “were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. |
| “She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother. We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.” | “She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother. We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.” |
| The station chief said the news team would hold a memorial on Wednesday afternoon. | The station chief said the news team would hold a memorial on Wednesday afternoon. |
| Schools in the area have been locked down until further notice, the Bedford County superintendent announced. | Schools in the area have been locked down until further notice, the Bedford County superintendent announced. |
| How the shooting unfolded | How the shooting unfolded |