FRANKLIN COUNTY, VIRGINIA – Two TV news journalists were shot and killed Wednesday morning in Virginia by an allegedly disgruntled former co-worker.
The two reporters – Alison Parker and Adam Ward – worked for WDBJ7. WDBJ7 news reported that Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce was hurt in the shooting and was in surgery. A person of interest – Bryce Williams AKA Vester Flanigan – has been captured. It has been reported that Williams posted video of the killing to a social media account and shot himself as police closed in.
It has reported that Williams became disgruntled when he worked at the TV station as racial remarks were made to him.
According to Virginia State Police, shortly before 11:30 a.m., Virginia State Police spotted the suspect vehicle headed eastbound on Interstate 66. With emergency lights activated the Virginia State Police trooper initiated a traffic stop on the suspect vehicle. The suspect vehicle refused to stop and sped away from the trooper. Minutes later, the suspect vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound. He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries. The male driver is believed to be the same male subject who shot three people this morning in Franklin County during a television news interview.
This is the suspected shooter, Vester Flanigan, who is also known as Bryce Williams. He is a former WDBJ7 employee. pic.twitter.com/ngXrqHVLmw
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
State police just released this picture of the shooter suspected of killing 2 WDBJ7 employees. http://t.co/Fhs7eFJEJW pic.twitter.com/5iVlGGs1RV
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Alison and Adam always had a fun time together. Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures. http://t.co/bglHxG2jXC pic.twitter.com/X74EflXqlz
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015