WDBJ7 News Team: How Are They Working Through The Tragedy?
The team at the news station in Roanoke, Virginia, is somehow managing to continue to do their jobs, and do them well, in spite of the horrific tragedy that hit them this morning. WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker and her cameraman Adam Ward, both in their mid-twenties, were both killed while Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back during what should have been a routine interview this morning.
WDBJ7 continues to broadcast the news throughout the day, though the reporters are understandably shaken. A WDBJ7 producer, Melissa Ott, was engaged to Ward and was watching the scene unfold from the control room, according to reports. The team from the news station is spending a lot of time remembering their fellow comrades with humor and affection via social media.
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
The shooter, a former WDBJ7 employee who has been described as “disgruntled” by his former employer, was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m. at Fairfax Inova Hospital in Virginia from a gunshot injury that appeared to have been self-inflicted. Several news agencies reported that the shooter had sent a 23-page fax to a major news agency, and the fax is being examined by authorities.
Even more disturbing about the tragedy was that the shooter had also filmed the shooting and posted it to his social media accounts. The shooter’s social media accounts have been suspended from view.
When the shooting first occurred, WDBJ7 anchor Kimberly McBroom was seen in studio, staring at the camera with wide eyes and dropped jaw. She very quickly told the audience that they would try to find out what happened as quickly as possible, but by then, WDBJ7 had gone from reporting the news to being the news. Word spread quickly that two WDBJ7 employees had been shot and killed, while another — Gardner — was in surgery from a gunshot wound to the back. Gardner is now listed in stable condition after surgery.
At a press conference this afternoon, Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton admitted he was stunned by the events that transpired this morning. He had worked with the dead WDBJ7 reporters three weeks ago for a remote shoot, similar to the one they did this morning.
On-air reporters were clearly choked up when it came to discussing their fallen friends. One commented about colleagues being just behind the set and crying while another’s voice shook in discussing the tragedy.
Parker’s family said in a statement, “Today we received news that no family should ever hear. Our vivacious, ambitious, smart, engaging, hilarious, beautiful, and immensely talented Alison (was) taken from the world. This is senseless and our family is crushed.”
Ward was remembered fondly by one of his Virginia Tech professors, Robert Denton.
“Adam was a delightful person. He worked hard – you could tell he loved what he was doing,” he said. “He wasn’t afraid to pitch in and do whatever was necessary for the broadcast. He did whatever was needed with a smile and with grace. He was simply a very nice young man and very professional.”
On the WDBJ7 Twitter feed, the station expressed their gratitude for the support that they have received across the continent.
From the bottom of our hearts thank you all so much for the calls, flowers, emails, and messages of love and support. pic.twitter.com/a34rVH7QES
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Those who knew the slain WDBJ7 reporter and cameraman spoke about how passionate they were about the news world and how eager they were to help out their loved ones and friends. Fellow WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst was romantically involved with Parker, with whom he had just moved in, and said he was numb in the aftermath of the shooting. Anchor Kimberly McBroom, who was in studio during the broadcast, continued to anchor the broadcast and report on the killings throughout the morning and was the picture of professionalism in spite of having witnessed terrible tragedy.
A local pastor has visited the WDBJ7 newsroom to offer emotional and spiritual support to Parker and Ward’s colleagues in the wake of the tragedy.
[Photo by Jay Paul/Getty Images]
