The suspect in the Moneta, Virginia shooting in which two journalists were gunned down during a live broadcast, has reportedly shot and killed himself.
WDBJ reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during a live news segment today in an attack authorities have said was carried out by a former employee of WDBJ.
WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey A.Marks spoke during live coverage of the attack, and said: “I can tell you one thing. Alison was everything. She was just such a positive person.”
The incident is said to have occurred at 6.45 am local time.
Police have now said that the suspect, 41-year-old Vester Flanagan, fatally shot himself several hours after fleeing the scene as police pursued him on a Virginia highway.
Social media posts uploaded in the intervening hours by a man identifying as Bryce Williams (Flanagan’s on-air name) depicted views of the attack from the killer’s vantage point.
A video was released from the killer’s vantage point.
The posts were soon removed and the accounts suspended.
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7’s Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning. http://t.co/oC9s4vLJXV — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
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
We are trying to figure out what just happened — thank you all for your concern and kind words. — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
