STREAM EXCLUSIVE ORIGINALS

Here's What We Know About the Heartbreaking Shooting That Took Place on Live TV

A reporter and cameraman were tragically killed on the spot.
By Taylor Ferber
August 26, 2015 / 11:10 AM

At 6:45 this morning, tragedy struck in Moneta, Virginia, when two employees of local CBS station WDBJ were shot and killed on live TV. Reporter Alison Parker was interviewing the local chamber of commerce director Vicki Gardner for what was supposed to be a cheery segment, when eight gun shots went off, killing Parker and cameraman Adam Ward. Gardner was shot in the back and is currently undergoing emergency surgery. The gunman, wearing all black, is still on the loose and reportedly being chased by police. He was believed to be a "disgruntled employee" of WDJB.

WARNING: Graphic footage below.

Here's what we know about the victims in this heartbreaking story.

Alison Parker, Reporter, 24

  • Graduated from JMU in December 2012

  • Was dating WDBJ public safety and mental health reporter Chris Hurst, and had recently moved in with him. Hurst took to Facebook to address the news.

  • Before working at WDBJ, she worked near the Marine base Camp Lejeune for the Jacksonville, North Carolina bureau of WCTI.

    • Adam Ward, Cameraman, 27

  • Graduated from Virginia Tech and went to high school in Salem, VA

  • Was reportedly engaged to WDBJ news producer Melissa Ott, who was producing the news this morning, reportedly her last day on the show. The two were about to move in together.

    • News outlets have various speculations of the gunman's identity, but state police released this photo, in hopes of finding the suspected shooter.

    Our thoughts are with the victims' families at this horrible time. Check back as more details of this story emerge.

    UPDATE: 8/26 12:40 pm

    The shooter has been identified as former WDBJ reporter Vester Lee Flanigan, also known as Bryce Williams. He reportedly shot and killed himself on I-66 in Faquier County around 11:25 this morning.

    On what looked like his Twitter account, he posted two videos leading up to the shooting at the scene, the second one capturing the moment he opened fire. He also tweeted the following, and the account has since been suspended.

    It also looks like he faxed a 23-page document to ABC News last night.