Reporter and cameraman shot dead in Virginia during live broadcast

Gunman kills reporter Alison Parker, 24, cameraman Adam Ward, 27, and injures third person on scene of live TV news segment

A gunman killed two members of a news crew and injured one more in Moneta, Virginia, in a shooting that was partially captured on video on Wednesday morning.

Police are investigating the shooting at the Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake that took place at about 6.45am ET. A news crew from WDBJ7 local news was on the scene to film a segment for the morning news when several shots rang out. Screams followed and the camera recording the feature fell, as producers cut to the shocked studio news team.

The station later announced that two of their team, Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, had been shot dead.

“Today was just like any other day,” anchor Kim McBroom said on the 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.”

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, 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.”

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.

Ward was described as a gregarious, hardworking photojournalist, an avid fan of Virginia Tech and longtime employee of the station.

The station chief said the news team would hold a memorial on Wednesday afternoon.

Police from Franklin and Bedford counties as well as Virginia state police are searching for a suspect at the scene. They have not described the extent of the third victim’s injuries.

Schools in the area have been locked down until further notice, the Bedford County superintendent announced.

Source: Guardian