By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
Accept
Okay.ngOkay.ngOkay.ng
Font ResizerAa
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Reading: (PHOTO): Alleged shooter of Virginia TV journalists has shot himself
Share
Font ResizerAa
Okay.ngOkay.ng
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Search
  • News
    • Politics
  • Entertainment
  • Business & Economy
  • Sport
  • Tech
Follow US
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2022 - All rights reserved
News

(PHOTO): Alleged shooter of Virginia TV journalists has shot himself

Muhammad A. Aliyu
By Muhammad A. Aliyu
Published: August 27, 2015
Share
4 Min Read
SHARE

Two television journalists were shot and killed in Virginia on Wednesday morning while conducting a live interview, and authorities said the suspect appeared to be a disgruntled current or former employee of the TV station.

Police pursued the suspect and in the late morning, an ABC local affiliate and CNN reported the suspected shooter had shot himself, but it was not known if he was dead or alive.

The suspect was identified as Vester Flanagan, 41, according to a dispatcher for the Augusta County, Virginia, Sheriff’s Department.

- Advertisement -

After the shooting of the journalists, someone claiming to have filmed it posted video online that appeared to be from shooter’s vantage point.

The gunman
The videos were posted to a Twitter account and on Facebook but were removed shortly afterward. One video clearly showed a handgun as the person filming approached the woman reporter.

The shooting occurred at about 6:45 a.m. EDT during an interview being broadcast live from Bridgewater Plaza, a Smith Mountain Lake recreation site with restaurants, shops, boating and arcades and holiday rentals.

The area is in the south-central part of the state, about 120 miles (190 km) from the capital of Richmond.

- Advertisement -

The journalists were filming an interview for the morning news show of CBS affiliate WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia. In the broadcast, shots were heard and the reporter and the person being interviewed screamed and ducked for cover.

The reporter Alison Parker, 24, and the cameraman, Adam Ward, 27, died in the incident, WDBJ7 said. The woman being interviewed was wounded.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in interview on Washington radio station WTOP that the suspected shooter had been identified as a disgruntled current or former station employee.

The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office has taken the lead on apprehending the suspect, with help from state police and others, McAuliffe told WTOP.

“Heartbroken over senseless murders today in Smith Mountain Lake,” McAuliffe said on Twitter.

Asked on CNN if the station had been targeted or had been threatened, WDBJ7 President and General Manager Jeff Marks said, “Every now and then you get a crazy email or something and we’ll look into it. Nothing of this nature than any of us could recall.”

He said the interview was to mark the 50th anniversary of the founding of Smith Mountain Lake, and the woman being interviewed was from the local chamber of commerce. She had been talking about the anniversary and tourism.

“We don’t make a secret of where we report from, we may start now,” Marks said.

There was no word yet from the hospital on the condition of the woman, identified as Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The station’s broadcast showed Parker interviewing Gardner about the lake and tourism development in the area. Gunshots erupted, and as Ward fell his camera hit the ground but kept running. An image caught on camera showed what appeared to be a man in dark clothing facing the camera with a weapon in his right hand.

The station said on its website that both the dead journalists were from the region.

Parker grew up in Martinsville and attended Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University, while Ward graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech, the station said.

They were both engaged to be married to other people.

Stay Updated on the Go with Our Latest News—Join Our WhatsApp Channel Now!
TAGGED:NewsVester FlanaganVirginiaWorld news
Share This Article
Facebook Whatsapp Whatsapp Telegram Email Copy Link Print
ByMuhammad A. Aliyu
Follow:
Muhammad Ameer Aliyu, is a prolific journalist who joined Okay Nigeria in 2015 with the aim staying committed to bringing more positive growth to the digital news platform. He is the Senior Editor at Okay Nigeria.
Previous Article UPDATE: Gunman in Virginia TV shooting identified, he posted videos of the shooting (VIDEO)
Next Article VIDEO: As man Films Himself Shooting 2 TV Reporter Live On Air

Connect with Okay on Social

FacebookLike
XFollow
InstagramFollow
TelegramFollow

Dollar/Naira Rates

Dollar to Naira Exchange Rate

Okay.ng Logo
Buy Rate ₦1,605.00
Sell Rate ₦1,620.00

Last updated: 4 days ago (June 3, 2025 2:33 pm)

Displayed rates are for informational purposes only and are subject to change.

USD/NGN Converter

- Advertisement -
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Recent Posts

Super Eagles Rally to Draw Against Russia in International Friendly
Sport
Manchester United Raises Annual Core Profit Forecast to Between £180m and £190m After Europa League Boost
Sport
Ange Postecoglou
Tottenham Hotspur Part Ways with Ange Postecoglou Despite Europa League Glory
Sport
Dangote Names Main Refinery Access Road “Bola Ahmed Tinubu Road” in Honor of President
News
L-R: Ify Okoye, Digital Creator; Linda Ejiofor-Suleiman, Actress; Stella Erebor, Head Internal Audit, Nigerian Communications Commission; Emanuella Samuel, Comedienne/Actress, Sylvia Musalagani, Safety Policy Manager, Africa, Middle East & Turkey (AMET), Meta, and Nicole Chikwe, founder of The Mummy Summit, during the launch of Instagram teen accounts in Lagos on Wednesday, June 4, 2025
Meta Launches Teen Accounts on Instagram in Nigeria to Enhance Online Safety for Young Users
Tech
- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

You May Also Like

News

President Tinubu and Top Officials Attend Eid-el-Kabir Prayers in Lagos, Emphasize Peace and Progress

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
International

Elon Musk’s Net Worth Plummets $34 Billion Amid Explosive Feud with Donald Trump

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
PoliticsTop stories

BREAKING: Akwa Ibom Governor Pastor Umo Eno Defects from PDP to APC in Strategic Political Shift

Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
Oluwadara Akingbohungbe
June 6, 2025
Okay.ngOkay.ng
Follow US
© OKN MEDIA PUBLISHING 2025 - All rights reserved
  • About Okay.ng
  • Advertising on Okay.ng
  • Contact Okay.ng
  • Careers
  • Meet the Team behind Okay.ng
  • Ownership and Funding of Okay.ng
  • Editorial Principles at Okay.ng
adbanner
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?