Shots fired during live TV interviewer and photographer dead

[dlevere]

http://www.wdbj7.com/news/local/law-...plaza/34923086

[dlevere]

By Stephanie Doyle


A screenshot of the suspect (WDBJ)

MONETA, Va. — A Roanoke-based WDBJ reporter and photographer were shot and killed Wednesday morning during an on-air during a live interview. A third person was also shot and injured.

The crew, reporter 24 year old Alison Parker and 27 year old photographer Adam Ward, was filming during a live television report at Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia. The shooting happened at about 6:45 A.M.

The alleged shooter, Vester Lee Flanagan, has reportedly shot himself but is still alive in critical condition. Previously, state police said Flanigan was dead. He shot himself after authorities confronted him on Interstate 66 in Virginia.


Vester Lee Flanagan (LinkedIn)

Flanagan is a former disgruntled employee of the television station where Parker and Ward worked. He worked as a reporter at WDBJ where he went by the on-air name of Bryce Williams. He has worked as a reporter at a number of stations throughout the South, including WNCT in Greenville, NC, WTWC in Tallahassee, and WTOC in Savannah.

UPDATE: Flanagan has Tweeted video of the shooting and comments about Ward and Parker.

During a live interview from Bridgewater Plaza, the gunman fired six to seven shots as Parker interviewed someone on screen. The camera then drops to the ground and the broadcast cuts back to the anchor desk. According to the Roanoke Times, Vicki Gardner, the subject of the interview, was shot in the back. She had surgery and is in stable condition. Gardner is head of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The video captures an image of the what’s believed to be the suspected shooter before it cuts away. WDBJ tweeted out that they are trying to figure out what happened and that law enforcement is on scene. Authorities from Bedford County, Franklin County and Virginia State Police have responded.

WDBJ President and General Manager Jeff Marks announced in a live broadcast at 8:45 a.m. that Parker and Ward had been killed. “We always say ‘senseless’ crime,” Marks said, as he was joined by other members of the news team at the anchor desk. “How can this individual have robbed Alison and Adam’s families of their lives and loves?”

WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst tweeted that he and Parker were “very much 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.”

Both Ward and Parker were from the WDBJ viewing area. Ward graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech. Parker grew up in Martinsville and attended Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University.

Ward’s fiancée, who is a producer at WDBJ, was recently hired by WSOC in Charlotte. She was to start there in mid-September.

Parker’s mother, Barbara Parker, is director of programs at the Piedmont Arts in Martinsville, Virginia. The center sent out this statement today:

“Barbara has been with Piedmont Arts for over 18 years and Alison grew up coming to the museum,” said Piedmont Arts Executive Director Kathy Rogers. “Alison was a smart, talented and beautiful woman and we are proud to call her part of the Piedmont Arts family. All of us here at Piedmont Arts are devastated. Our hearts and prayers are with Barbara, her husband Andy and son Drew.


Allison Parker interviewing Vicki Gardner

We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. http://t.co/tUrHVwAXcN—
Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

[dlevere]

Mr. Robot Finale Postponed Because of Virginia Killings

By MICHAEL ROTHMAN


Rami Malek as Elliot in "Mr. Robot." Peter Kramer/USA Network

After this morning's horrific killings in Virginia, USA Network has decided to postpone the season finale of "Mr. Robot" since one of the scenes is eerily similar.

"Mr. Robot," a show that "Follows a young computer programmer who suffers from social anxiety disorder and forms connections through hacking," according to IMDB, will instead air its finale next week.

In the show, the young programmer is recruited by a mysterious anarchist, who calls himself Mr. Robot.

Read: Suspect in On-Air Shooting Dies From Self-Inflicted Wound

Related: After Shooting, Alleged Gunman Details Grievances in ‘Suicide Notes’

Photos from the series also show the character's lead Elliot Alderson, played by Rami Malek, wearing a black hoodie. The prevailing theme of the show is corruption in America.

"The previously filmed season finale of 'Mr. Robot' contains a graphic scene similar in nature to today’s tragic events in Virginia. Out of respect to the victims, their families and colleagues, and our viewers, we are postponing tonight’s episode. Our thoughts go out to all those affected during this difficult time," USA Network told ABC News in a statement.

The finale will air next Wednesday at 10 p.m. EST.

Vester Lee Flanagan, known professionally as Bryce Williams, allegedly shot two of his former colleagues, Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, of WDBJ-TV, killing them in the field during a live news segment in Moneta, Virginia.

[MathUser]

So anyone see the robot show? What's so similar?

[dlevere]

'Mr. Robot' finale delayed after Va. murders

By Bill Keveney

USA Network is postponing Wednesday's first-season finale of Mr. Robot in the wake of the shooting murder of two Virginia journalists on live television earlier in the day.

The network issued a statement regarding the move: "The previously filmed season finale of Mr. Robot contains a graphic scene similar in nature to today’s tragic events in Virginia. Out of respect to the victims, their families and colleagues, and our viewers, we are postponing tonight’s episode. Our thoughts go out to all those affected during this difficult time."

The critically acclaimed drama focuses on a brilliant but troubled computer programmer and vigilante hacker, Elliot Alderson (Rami Malek), who goes up against a mega-conglomerate.

A repeat run of last week's penultimate episode will air Wednesday night, with the finale running one week later (Sept. 2, 10 p.m. ET/PT).