VIRGINIA — Two people are dead after a gunman opened fire on journalists who were live on television at Smith Mountain Lake.
Franklin County deputies are searching for a suspect after multiple shots were fired at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake Wednesday morning, according to a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Part of the incident was caught on video during WDBJ’s morning broadcast.
During a live news update just before 9 a.m., WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks reported that reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward died shortly after the shooting.
WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during an interview in Moneta, Bedford County, the TV station said.
Ms Parker was starting an interview about tourism at the shopping centre when suddenly eight shots rang out, the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and her screams could be heard. The footage captures what appears to be a fleeting image of the gunman, who is wearing black trousers and a blue top – and holding a handgun.
Cameraman Adam Ward was to be married to fiancee Melissa Ott and recently proposed to her at the Newseum in Washington DC in the spring.
Pictures on his Facebook show the two together at football games at his alma mater Virginia Tech University and Penn State University.
We didn’t share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
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 — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
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.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee. — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
#BREAKING: VSP & local police just zoomed off WB I-64 from Afton. @MattTalhelm is following search for @WDBJ7 gunman pic.twitter.com/QwWwGmZiaG
— NBC29 (@NBC29) August 26, 2015
