Reporter, Photographer Killed on Live TV, Gunman Suspected to be a ‘Disgruntled’ Employee [Update; Suspect Shoots Himself]

Two members of a local TV station's news team in Virginia were killed during a live TV interview at Bridgewater Plaza near Roanoke, WDBJ7-TV reported.

WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward were conducting a live broadcast at around 6:45 a.m. when a gunman opened fire and fatally shot both of them. Another victim, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, who was being interviewed, was injured and taken to the hospital for surgery.

The gunman is suspected to be a disgruntled WDBJ employee. Virginia Governor, Terry McAuliffe said to WTOP radio that the suspect is expected to be in custody soon.

Ward was 27 and Parker had just turned 24.

"This kind of loss will resonate in these halls for a long, long time as we remember in their short lives what dedicated journalism they produced and what outstanding journalists they were," WDBJ7 general manager Jeffrey Marks said.

Marks added that the authorities are "working very diligently to track down the motive and the person responsible for this terrible crime against two fine journalists."

Adam was engaged to producer Melissa Ott, who also works at the station. Ott was at the station and saw the shooting unfold. Parker was dating another WDBJ7 employee, anchor Chris Hurst.

"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," Hurst tweeted.

"They were special people," anchor Kimberly McBroom added. "They would brighten up the room every morning."

Ward and Parker were from Virginia.

UPDATE

The gunman, identified as Vester Flanagan is allegedly in critical condition after he shot himself. Williams was being chased by the police on the I-66 highway. 

"Two years ago, we had to separate him from the company. We did understand that he was still living in the area," Marks said. 

ABC News reported that the station received a 23-page manifesto from Bryce Williams. The police are investigatin the latest documents. Williams is the name Flanagan used while on-air, a former WDBJ employee revealed.