Two US journalists killed live on air, gunman shot himself

A US television reporter and a cameraman were shot and killed during a live broadcast in northern Virginia on Wednesday in an attack authorities said was carried out by a former employee of the TV station.

The suspect, 41-year-old Vester Flanagan, shot himself several hours later as police pursued him on a Virginia highway. He died later at the hospital, police said.

Social media postings by a person who appeared to be Flanagan indicated the suspect had grievances against the TV station, CBS affiliate “WDBJ7” in Roanoke, Virginia, which sacked him two years ago. 

The person also posted a video that appeared to show the attack filmed from the shooter’s vantage point.

Gunman Flanagan was apparently “disturbed in some way” over something that had happened in his life, said Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton.

The “WDBJ7” journalists who were killed were reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27. The woman being interviewed on the morning news program was wounded and is now undergoing intensive medical care in hospital.