Shots Fired During Live Shot (Updated x24)
/Update X24: The Shooter was pronounced dead at the Hospital at 1:26PM. Rot in hell.
Update X23: Police say the suspect had a fait pulse and was still alive after shooting himself. WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks says of shooter: "I'm not really sure I want him to live or die."
Update X22: Police say the suspect killed himself on I-66 in Fauquier Co. He couldn't just off himself before changing the lives of so many people. This truly was the coward's way out. END OF UPDATES. PRAY FOR THE VICTIMS
Update X21: Augusta County Sheriff's office say that Vester Flanagan AKA Bryce Williams is Dead. He was the suspect in this morning's shooting.
Update X20: The impact of this morning's shooting is reaching other markets. In Memphis, police are urging stations to report ANY threats or odd behavior to them.
Also, a source tells FTVLive that Cox owned WHBQ was suspending all liveshots until further notice. Not sure if this is just at the Memphis station or at Cox station's company wide.
Update X19: back in 2014, Vester Flanagan AKA Bryce Williams filed a lawsuit against WDBJ for alleged discrimination. He named most of the WDBJ staff in his complaint. In July of last year the case was dismissed by a judge.
Update X18 :
Update X17: Twitter has suspended the suspect's account. Not sure if this helps or hurts police trying to find him?
Update X16: The video is sick. Let's hope cops catch this asshole ASAP. FTVLive will NOT post this video!!!!!
Update X15: Suspect posted video of shooting on his Twitter feed! Screen cap of gun pointed right at Parker:
Update X14: Word is that the suspect's name is Vester Lee Flanagan (not Lester). One source says that his on air name at the station was Bryce Williams.
Just seconds ago, Bryce Williams sent these tweets. He appears to be tweeting while on the run:
Update X13: Police are stationed along I-81 and I-64 looking for suspect vehicle:
Update X12: This is the BOLO that police have out for the shooter:
Update X11: Viewers are starting to drop off flowers and cards at the station:
Update X10: Sources say that WDBJ Photographer Adam Ward was engaged to Melissa Ott who was a Producer for the morning show. She was in the control room as the shooting happened. Word is that Ott was leaving the station this week for a new job in Charlotte. Ward was planning of following her to North Carolina.
Update X9: WDBJ Main Anchor Chris Hurst tweeted out this. So sad:
Update X8: WNBC is reporting that the NYPD has stepped up security at TV stations in New York City after this morning's shooting in Roanoke.
Update X7: The third victim of the shooting was the woman that Parker was interviewing. She is Vicki Gardner, the head of regional Chamber of Commerce:
Update X6: Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe says that they know who the suspect is and believe "he was disgruntled employee of TV station."
Update X5: Word is that the cops are involved in a high speed chase on I-81 with the suspected shooter right now.
Update X4: WDBJ GM Jeffery Marks says that Photographer Adam Ward's fiancé Melissa Ott also works at the station and was in the control room as the shooting happened live on the air. -
Update X3: Word is that the police have both a name and license plate number of the suspect wanted in the shooting.
Update X2: Here is a picture of the gunman captured by Adam Ward's camera. Police are still looking for the shooter. One news crew on the scene tells FTVLive that "cops are everywhere" as they look for suspect.
WDBJ (Roanoke) was doing a live shot this morning from Bridgewater Plaza. During the live shot, a number of shots could be heard off camera.
It appears that the shooter was taking aim at the news crew. Cops say they are searching for the shooter.
Police are reporting there are three victims, according to WSLS. The shooting occurred at 6:45 a.m., according to Franklin County Sheriff Department spokesperson Phillip Young.
WSLS said police are still looking for the shooter and hope to have a description out to the public shortly.
WDBJ is just briefly mentioning the story on their website.
Update: Word is that WDBJ GM Jeffrey Marks announced on the air, "It's my very very sad duty to report... that Alison and Adam died this morning."
Allison Parker was the morning Reporter at the station. She formerly worked at WCTI NewsChannel 12 in the Jacksonville, N.C., bureau.
She was once also an intern at WDBJ.
The Photographer that was killed this morning is Adam Ward.