US reporter, cameraman shot dead Live on air

A US TV reporter and cameraman were shot dead during a Live to air interview at a shopping centre in Virginia.

WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during the interview in Moneta, Bedford County, the TV station said.

Ms Parker was starting an interview about tourism at the shopping centre when suddenly eight shots rang out, the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and her screams could be heard.

The footage captures what appears to be a fleeting image of the gunman, who was wearing black trousers and a blue top and holding a handgun.

The station then cut away to a stunned news anchor, Kimberly McBroom, in the studio. “Not sure what happened there,” she said.

“Alison and Adam died this morning at 06:45 shortly after the shots rang out. We do not know the motive or who the suspect or the killer is,” the station’s general manager, Jeffrey Marks, announced later.

“I cannot tell you how much they were loved by the WDBJ7 team… our hearts are broken,” he said.

The gunman, identified as former employee Vester Flanagan, shot himself as Virginia State Police were closing in on a rental car on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County, WDBJ7 said.

Virginia state police said the suspect refused to stop when spotted by troopers and sped away.

“Minutes later, the suspect’s vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound,” police said in a statement.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.

The woman being interviewed by Parker, was shot in the back and is undergoing surgery.

Source: BBC, Variety, ABC.