Two US TV jourlists shot dead on live TV

Washington, August 26: A manhunt was underway for a gunman who fatally shot a local news reporter and photographer on live television during an interview outside Moneta, Virginia, on Wednesday morning. Alison Parker was interviewing a woman at approximately 6.45 a.m. when shots rang out. Both women screamed, CNN reported. As the camera fell to the ground, the audience caught the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to pointing a gun towards the downed cameraman.

The station immediately cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio. Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, were killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta, the station reported later. The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regiol Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back and was in surgery, said Barb Nocera, the chamber’s special projects mager said. The gunman was believed to have fired six or seven times, WDBJ General Mager Jeff Marks said. The assailant remained on the loose. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives was participating in the manhunt, while the ATF and FBI were participating in the investigation. Area schools were on lockdown.

Authorities know the identity of the man believed to be the shooter, a law enforcement official told CNN. (ians)