WDBJ7 morning anchor Kimberly McBroom, paused for just a moment during a live broadcast this morning, shocked by what she had just seen.
A live shot with reporter Alison Parker interviewing a local official was interrupted by gunfire and screaming. With the camera on her at the anchor desk back in the studio, McBroom gathered herself almost immediately.
"OK, not sure what happened there. We will, of course, let you know as soon as we find out what those sounds were from," she said, and then introduced the next news story.
McBroom had no way of knowing it at the time, but Parker and her cameraman Adam Ward had just been shot by a gunman, allegedly a disgruntled ex-colleague who had been nursing his resentment against them for over two years since he had been let go from the station.
As news broke, the journalists of WDBJ7 continued to broadcast as they became the story. McBroom stayed on the air, joined by other colleagues including station general manager Jeffrey Marks, who stepped in as a de facto spokesman for the shellshocked team.
CNN switched to the WDBJ7 feed for some of its coverage, sending the channel's level and unflinching work out across the country. Many took notice.
Incredible how calm and professional journos on-air and behind scenes @WDBJ7 are right now. Reporter even packaged a story on the two.— Cristina Tenaglia (@cristina_CP24) August 26, 2015
This is what professional journalism looks like. @WDBJ7 live stream shows staff covering death of their own. http://t.co/y2rwyYmszq— Sam R. Hall (@samrhall) August 26, 2015
CNN is simulcasting the @WDBJ7 Noon newscast. How these people are able to be as professional as they are right now is amazing.— Matt Allen (@MattAllenShow) August 26, 2015
General managers almost always stay behind the scenes, but Marks become the public face of the station on Wednesday, reaffirming the humanity of the murdered journalists with fierceness. The station also released photos of Parker and Ward in happier times -- clowning around in the studio and smiling with colleagues.
CNN interviewed Marks, offering details about the station's operations and its history with the alleged shooter. He also offered the only personal, on-air reaction from a WDBJ7 employee. Acknowledging that he was stepping outside of any journalistic role, Marks briefly discussed his anger toward the gunman, who at the time was still on the loose.
“On behalf of WDBJ, I wanted to let that little bit of anger out," he said."I'm not really sure I want him to live or die. If he dies he took the coward’s way out. If he lives, he'll go to trial."
While continuing to work, many staffers posted messages of sadness and mourning to social media. General assignment reporter Nadine Maser wrote on Facebook: "My head is still having a hard time comprehending what has happened. Please keep everyone in your prayers. This tragedy affects so many people."
She included photos of herself with some of her other WDBJ7 coworkers including Parker and Ward. "We are all family here," she wrote.
Senior reporter Joe Dashiell was one of many to post his remembrance on Twitter.
A very sad day at WDBJ7, but this is how I will always remember Alison Parker and Adam Ward. pic.twitter.com/1PKe5M4eTJ— Joe Dashiell (@jdashiell) August 26, 2015
The relationships among the employees, however, went beyond friendship. Parker had recently moved in with Chris Hurst, an anchor at the station.
Ward, the cameraman, was engaged to a producer at the station who was
http://www.apnewsarchive.com/2015/The-Latest-on-TV-shooting-Cameraman-s-fiancee-worked-at-station-watched-from-control-room/id-a1be991879384f038b70c682353c2592">marking her last day at WDBJ7. She had found a new job in North Carolina.
"It's hard to imagine, isn't it?" Marks, the general manger, told CNN in an interview. "She was moving on to a station in Charlotte. It was going to be a day of celebration."
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