Black suspect in Virginia TV news shootings dies

Shortly before 11:30 a.m., Virginia State Police spotted the suspect vehicle headed eastbound on Interstate 66.

CNN reported in a Twitter posting that the gunman shot himself as police were closing in to arrest him.

A reporter and cameraman from WDBJ-TV were killed in the incident Wednesday morning.

It says the two were more than just journalists – “they were good friends who will be missed”.

Virginia Police said in a statement that he was taken to a nearby hospital for “treatment of life-threatening injuries”.

A 24-year-old WDBJ7 reporter, Alison Parker, and 27-year-old photographer, Adam Ward, were tragically gunned down during a live broadcast on Wednesday morning (August 26) in Moneta, Virginia.

Marks was unsure about any specific complaints Flanagan had against Ward or Parker, but did confirm the former employee had filed a complaint that was eventually dismissed by the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission. She is in stable condition following surgery.

Jeffrey A. Marks, WDBJ-TV’s general manager, described Flanagan as an unhappy, angry man who was eventually fired.

In an interview with WTOP radio, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said authorities believe he was a disgruntled WDBJ employee.

The accounts’ authenticity could not be confirmed – and they were swiftly suspended. She was being interviewed on live television by Parker when the gunfire erupted. The cameraman, Adam Ward, had been with WDBJ for several years, starting off in the production department and moving to videographer.

Parker screams and the camera spins and falls to the ground, showing the feet of a man walking toward the news crew at close range. “We do not know the motive”, Marks said.

Vicki Gardner, the director of the local Chamber of Commerce, was also seriously wounded.

WDBJ quickly switched back to a shot of the anchor back at the station, who said “OK, not sure what happened there”. His fiancee was reportedly in the control room and watched as the shooting happened WDBJ7 later tweeted a message including a photo of the two: “We love you, Alison and Adam”.