https://twitter.com/MicahGrimes/status/636514681692246016
An awful tragedy occurred Wednesday morning during a live news report in Moneta, Va., when 24-year-old reporter Alison Parker and 27-year-old photojournalist Adam Ward for WDBJ 7 News were shot and killed by an unknown gunman. The motive is still unknown and to our most recent knowledge, the gunman (pictured above) is still on the loose.
The shooting happened at 6:45 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake during what appeared to be a lighthearted segment on tourism. We’re not including video of the shooting itself due to its upsetting nature.
The WDBJ 7 News team was tasked with announcing the deaths of Parker and Ward on air Wednesday morning. Everything about this is terrible. We will update as new information becomes available.
[protected-iframe id=”3d2110c35379df20d99bfb9b1fbdcc85-60970621-60765065″ info=”https://streamable.com/e/uwvh” width=”650″ height=”400″ frameborder=”0″ scrolling=”no” webkitallowfullscreen=”” mozallowfullscreen=”” allowfullscreen=””]
This will be the way I remember Alison Parker and Adam Ward. God bless them and their families. Such a tragedy in VA. pic.twitter.com/YyosYvYwYs
— Jason Adams (@JasonAdamsWFTS) August 26, 2015
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Update: Alison Parker was romantically involved with WDBJ 7 anchor Chris Hurst, who is obviously heartbroken by the loss.
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 (@ChrisHurstVA) 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 (@ChrisHurstVA) 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 (@ChrisHurstVA) 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 (@ChrisHurstVA) August 26, 2015
(Via WSLS 10)
UPDATE: A suspect, a former reporter at the station, has been identified.
