Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were in the middle of a live news broadcast when a gunman fatally shot them in Virginia on Wednesday morning.
The WDBJ7 news team was at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake, a reservoir community about 50 miles southeast of Roanoke. Parker was interviewing Vicki Gardner, head of the SML Chamber of Commerce, when a half dozen shots broke out. Gardner was shot in the back and is currently in surgery.
Parker was 24; Ward was 27.
We love you, Alison and Adam. pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Alison Parker
Parker grew up in the area and is a former WDBJ7 intern. The James Madison University graduate previously worked at WCTI NewsChannel 12 in Jacksonville, North Carolina, according to a bio on the station's website.
Chris Hurst, an anchor at WDBJ7, tweeted after the shooting that he and Parker were "in love" and had just moved in together. "We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday," he said, calling her "the most radiant woman" he had ever met.
We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
Alison and Adam always had a fun time together. Here are some behind-the-scenes pictures. http://t.co/bglHxG2jXC pic.twitter.com/X74EflXqlz— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Adam Ward
Ward, a photographer for WDBJ7, graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech. He had been working as a photojournalist since graduating from college in 2011. He was engaged to Melissa Ott, who also works at the station. Ott was reportedly in the control room during the broadcast and saw the shooting happen live.
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
Cameraman #AdamWard, 27, who died in the shooting, was engaged to #MelissaOtt, a producer for morning show. #Prayers pic.twitter.com/znRLPDCLoS— Ashley M. Lapadula (@AshleyU23TV) August 26, 2015
“He was the kind of guy who if he was on his way home from work and heard something breaking he would go do it,” Jeff Marks, general manager for the station, said during a televised tribute.
"Adam was our go-to guy," WBDJ spokesman Mike Morgan said. "He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked. He did live shots during our morning show for several years."
Roanoke Times journalist Cameron Austin, who has worked alongside both victims, described them as "the nicest people you could meet."
Alison Parker was a JMU grad. Adam, a Virginia Tech grad. Worked beside both of them. The nicest people you could meet. Just in shock. #WDBJ— Cameron Austin (@CameronOAustin) August 26, 2015
How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video [via New York Daily News] pic.twitter.com/KoNjJOqr7k— Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnRTV6) August 26, 2015
So saddened by our loss today at @WDBJ. Life is so precious, and this morning we lost two precious members of our family.— Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent) August 26, 2015
Jessica Eggert contributed to this report.