Two journalists working with WDBJ7, a US broadcast station, were killed on Wednesday morning during a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza in Virginia, the station has confirmed.
An attacker walked into the studio as the two were interviewing a guest, firing shots that killed the two journalists.
“It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7’s Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning,” WDBJ7 announced on its Twitter handle, @WDBJ7.
The station’s general manager, Jeff Marks, described the shooting as a “terrible crime against two fine journalists… who were just doing their job.”
READ ALSO:
- Buhari Names SGF, Chief Of Staff, Other Key Officials
- Pirates Strike Again In Bayelsa, Abduct Two Monarchs
- Nigeria Has A Peculiar Displaced Persons Problem – Iveta Ouvry, Country Director, Mercy Corps
- Senate Committee Walks Out EFCC Officials, As Lamorde Fails To Honour Invitation
- Deadline Approaches For Thompson Foundation FPA Awards
Marks said the motive or suspect is not known but reports emerging suggest the attack was carried out by “a disgruntled employee from the TV station.”
Alison Parker, who just turned 24, was interviewing Vicki Gardner, the executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce when the attacker walked in and fired about six shots. Gardner was also wounded in the attack and is said to be in surgery.
The unidentified man escaped after the attack but is being pursued by the police.