Two reporters in Moneta, Virginia, were shot and killed during an interview Wednesday morning that aired live on local news station WDBJ, BuzzFeed News reported.
The two reporters, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, had previously worked with the alleged shooter at WDBJ, the station reported. The shooter allegedly opened fire on the reporters because Ward went to HR and Parker made racist comments, Quartz reported. He allegedly shot himself on Wednesday morning and died at a Northern Virginia hospital, WDBJ reported.
Parker and Ward worked together almost every day for the station as a team. Both were young journalists with long careers ahead of them, and both were about to start their own families, according to BuzzFeed.
Parker, 24, was dating Chris Hurst, who worked at the station as the 6 p.m. news anchor. The two had dated for the past nine months and recently moved in together, BuzzFeed reported.
Hurst was also quick to send his wishes out to Wards family, friends and fiancee, Melissa Ott, who was at the station at the time of the shooting, according to CNNs Brian Stelter.
Parker and Ward were both commended for their flexibility and hardworking attitudes. Parker was often called a rock star by her co-workers, BuzzFeed News reported.
Throw anything at the girl and she can do it, coworkers told BuzzFeed.
Parker was a recent graduate of James Madison University. She started working at WDBJ as an intern and eventually became the morning news anchor, BuzzFeed News reported.
Like Parker, Ward also started as an intern at the station after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011, according to BuzzFeed.
Ward was similarly described as a go-to guy, who would complete any assignment he was handed, according to Yahoo! News.
"Adam was our go-to guy," WDBJ spokesman Mike Morgan said, Yahoo! News reported. "He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked. He did live shots during our morning show for several years."
Anchor Kimberly McBroom told NBC News that Parker and Ward always lightened up a room and inspired their co-workers when they were together.
"They were special people," she told NBC News. "They would brighten up the room every morning."
Despite Wednesday mornings darkness, WDBJ employees and fellow Americans plan to remember the two journalists for the fun and loving people they were.
The two reporters, Alison Parker and Adam Ward, had previously worked with the alleged shooter at WDBJ, the station reported. The shooter allegedly opened fire on the reporters because Ward went to HR and Parker made racist comments, Quartz reported. He allegedly shot himself on Wednesday morning and died at a Northern Virginia hospital, WDBJ reported.
Parker and Ward worked together almost every day for the station as a team. Both were young journalists with long careers ahead of them, and both were about to start their own families, according to BuzzFeed.
Parker, 24, was dating Chris Hurst, who worked at the station as the 6 p.m. news anchor. The two had dated for the past nine months and recently moved in together, BuzzFeed reported.
Hurst was also quick to send his wishes out to Wards family, friends and fiancee, Melissa Ott, who was at the station at the time of the shooting, according to CNNs Brian Stelter.
Parker and Ward were both commended for their flexibility and hardworking attitudes. Parker was often called a rock star by her co-workers, BuzzFeed News reported.
Throw anything at the girl and she can do it, coworkers told BuzzFeed.
Parker was a recent graduate of James Madison University. She started working at WDBJ as an intern and eventually became the morning news anchor, BuzzFeed News reported.
Like Parker, Ward also started as an intern at the station after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2011, according to BuzzFeed.
Ward was similarly described as a go-to guy, who would complete any assignment he was handed, according to Yahoo! News.
"Adam was our go-to guy," WDBJ spokesman Mike Morgan said, Yahoo! News reported. "He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked. He did live shots during our morning show for several years."
Anchor Kimberly McBroom told NBC News that Parker and Ward always lightened up a room and inspired their co-workers when they were together.
"They were special people," she told NBC News. "They would brighten up the room every morning."
Despite Wednesday mornings darkness, WDBJ employees and fellow Americans plan to remember the two journalists for the fun and loving people they were.
