A massive manhunt has been launched for a gunman who shot a local news reporter and photographer on live TV. The fatal shooting occurred during an interview being conducted in Moneta, Virginia, Wednesday morning.
Victim Alison Parker was conducting an interview with a woman at approximately 6:45am when shots rang out, prompting both women to scream.
The cameraman, Adam Ward, was fatally shot and as the camera rolled to the ground, viewers caught a brief glimpse of a man pointing a gun at the fallen cameraman.
The station cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio.
The incident occurred at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta.
The subject of the interview, Vicki Gardner, who is the executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was wounded in the back and is now in surgery.
WDBJ, the station conducting the interview, said that the gunman fired six or seven times.
Area schools are on lockdown as the gunman remains on the loose.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, along with the FBI and local law enforcement are participating in the manhunt.
The FBI is conducting the investigation.
Authorities have confirmed the identity of the shooter as former WDBJ employee Vester L. Flanagan.
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