Two television journalists were shot and killed in Virginia on Wednesday morning while conducting a live television interview, their station, WDBJ7 said.
The incident occurred during a live broadcast in Bedford County, when shots could be heard, sending the reporter and her source screaming and ducking for cover.
The station said that journalists Alison Parker and Adam Ward died in the incident.
Media reports said Parker and Ward were filming a feature segment for the morning news programme at Bridgewater Plaza, a shopping and recreation plaza.
“We do not know the motive, we do not know who the killer is,” Jeff Marks, the station’s General Manager, said on air.
Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said in a statement that “We believe it was a disgruntled employee who fired at the TV crew. Not a case of terrorism. It is a criminal case.”
Parker was starting an interview about tourism at the shopping centre when suddenly eight shots rang out, the camera spun and dropped to the ground, and her screams could be heard.
The footage then captures what appears to be a fleeting image of the gunman, who is wearing black trousers and a blue top – and holding a handgun.
WDBJ-TV general manager Jeffrey A. Marks called shooting “a terrible crime against two fine journalists.”
The station said the woman who was being interviewed had survived the attack but was in hospital and required surgery.
“Alison and Adam died this morning at 06:45 shortly after the shots rang out. We do not know the motive or who the suspect or the killer is,” the station’s general manager, Jeffrey Marks, announced on air.
“I cannot tell you how much they were loved by the WDBJ7 team… our hearts are broken,” he said.
WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst revealed that he and Ms Parker had been in a relationship and had planned to marry.
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