A Roanoke VA news report at Bridgewater Plaza about the growth of the area was brutally interrupted by gunshots this morning. CBS affiliate WDBJ7 sent a crew to interview Vicki Gardner about the development, when shots were fired from behind the camera in their direction. At least six shots were fired, during which the camera turned toward the assailant who was briefly caught on tape.
Screen grab being shared on social media shows apparent black-clad gunman opening fire on @WDBJ7 crew in Moneta, Va. pic.twitter.com/sqW1C2NwQy
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 26, 2015
Police are at the scene of crime, little besides the live broadcast is known about how the events unfolded.
Law enforcement is on scene at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta. The incident involves a WDBJ7 crew. This is all we know. http://t.co/hmQe15vOUk
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Update: The suspect, identified potentially as a former employee of the station by Governor of Virginia, is being pursued on the Interstate 81, near the I-64. An arrest is apparently imminent. Schools in the vicinity are currently on lockdown. The suspect has not been named though the police are aware of his identity. The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office alert was issued for a Lester Lee Flanighan (spelling not known), but it is not officially confirmed that this is the suspect. Other sources identify the person in the footage as Vester Flanagan.
Two deceased victims have been confirmed and identified; Alison Parker, 24, was the reporter of the segment, and Adam Ward, 27, was the cameraman.
Update: Allison Parker and photographer Adam Ward have been killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza at SML. pic.twitter.com/m4ElK04GLf
— Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent) August 26, 2015
Brian Stelter, of CNN, has said that Ward was engaged to a morning producer, and it was her last day at work today as they were moving to Charlotte. Gardner, the subject of the interview is indicated to be in surgery currently.
In response to this incident the NYPD is reported to have said they will increase police presence around stations in New York, confirmed by ABC.
NYPD says they will step up police presence around TV stations in New York after fatal shooting in Virginia.
— Matthew Keys (@MatthewKeysLive) August 26, 2015
Update: Parker’s partner, WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst also revealed that they had wedding plans too, and had recently moved in together.
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
In the wake of this shooting, Gov. McAuliffe also called for improved gun control, especially commenting on background checks: “There are too many guns in the hands of people who should not have guns”.
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 17:28 BST: The French news agency Agence France-Presse reports the suspect, identified as Vester Flanagan, a former station employee, is in critical condition in hospital, citing reports from Virginia State Police.
#UPDATE Suspect in deadly US on-air shooting shoots himself: media http://t.co/4lSQO5cq99
— Agence France-Presse (@AFP) August 26, 2015
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 17:35 BST: The Virginia State Police has issued a statement via Facebook, saying the shooter is in hospital, after a crash after not stopping for a state trooper.
Franklin County Shooting Suspect In CustodyShortly before 11:30 a.m., Virginia State Police spotted the suspect…
Posted by Virginia State Police on Wednesday, August 26, 2015
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 18:09 BST: During the daily press briefing, Josh Earnest, the White House spokesman, quoted by the Reuters news agency, said the incident in Virginia is an example of gun violence in the country becoming all too common.
BREAKING: White House spokesman says shooting of Virginia journalists another example of U.S. gun violence becoming all too common.
— Reuters Politics (@ReutersPolitics) August 26, 2015
Meanwhile, the interviewee on WDBJ this morning, Vicki Gardner, is said to be out of surgery. Kettle has reached out to a hospital spokesperson to clarify updates on her condition. In addition, it was also reported the suspect, acting under the name Bryce Williams, submitted on Tuesday evening a 23 page fax to the US television network ABC. Kettle has reached out to ABC for comment.
The Virginia State Police are to hold a press conference at 19:00 BST, according to a report from the BBC.
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 18:17 BST: Facebook has told Kettle that the profile of the shooter and a page related to the shooting has been removed for violations of their community standards. Facebook’s standards indicate that users are not allowed to celebrate crimes they have committed, under criminal activity.
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 18:25 BST: The Society of Professional Journalists, a US journalism advocacy organisation, has issued a statement on the shooting. Paul Fletcher, the president-elect, said “the senseless loss of these lives is tragic.”
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 22:31 BST: The suspect died at 18:30 BST due to injuries, according to remarks from the sheriff in Franklin County, Virginia. The sheriff also confirms that Vicki Gardner, the interviewee, was treated for non-life threatening injuries.
UPDATE (Alex Veeneman) – 22:38 BST: ABC did not respond to Kettle’s request for comment, but a report from the USA Today newspaper indicates that the network turned over the documents to police.
