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.
βIt is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7’s Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning,β WDBJ7 announced on its Twitter handle, @WDBJ7.
The stationβs general manager, Jeff Marks, described the shooting as a βterrible crime against two fine journalistsβ¦ who were just doing their job.β
Marks said the motive or suspect is not known but reports emerging suggest the attack was carried out by βa disgruntled employee from the TV station.β
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.