WDBJ7 Update: 2 Shot Dead, 1 Injured During Live TV News Broadcast

Unbelievable. According to WDBJ7, two of their own employees were shot to death this morning during a live broadcast around 6:45 a.m. in Moneta, Virginia. Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were killed. Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce was injured in the shooting and was said to be in surgery.

Details are still coming in, but WDBJ7 said police were looking for the suspect, who apparently opened fire on the news team. See below for a photo of the suspected shooter, who is reportedly a "disgruntled" former station employee. According to WHSV, the Augusta County Sheriff's Department identified the suspect as Vester Lee Flanagan, but on air he went by Bryce Williams.

This is the most heartbreaking part of an already heartbreaking tragedy: Both of the slain young journalists had new reasons to be excited about their futures, with Adam engaged and Alison starting a relationship with WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst. Chris tweeted his sorrow and shared their love story:

We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. http://pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN

- Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.We just celebrated her 24th birthday

- Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.

- Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.

- Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

So incredibly sad -- and maddening. #WDBJ is now trending on Wednesday morning, and the news site has been updating with information as it comes in:

It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7's Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning. http://t.co/oC9s4vLJXV

- WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

We love you, Alison and Adam. http://pic.twitter.com/hLSzQi06XE

- WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

State police just released this picture of the shooter suspected of killing 2 WDBJ7 employees. http://t.co/Fhs7eFJEJW http://pic.twitter.com/5iVlGGs1RV

- WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

Keep an eye on them for more. Our deepest condolences to the families, and viewers who are also traumatized by what happened. It's hard to imagine how this can be explained, but it's relaunching debates on how future gun violence can be prevented.

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