Virginia shooting victims: Tributes paid to Alison Parker and Adam Ward
The two TV journalists shot dead in a shocking attack in Virginia will be remembered for their professionalism, enthusiasm and smiles, their colleagues have said in moving tributes.
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While police carry out a manhunt after the suspected gunman, who opened fire on a WDBJ news crew during a live broadcast from a Virginia shopping center on Wednesday, his victims and their relatives get their words of support and commemoration.
Our entire newsroom is heartbroken. Everyone is crying. #WDBJpic.twitter.com/i8sdMVXsil
— Kelly Gray (@kellbellgray) August 26, 2015Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, killed in the incident Wednesday, have been described as journalists who worked well together as a team. They reportedly fell victim to a “disgruntled” ex-employee of WDBJ7 TV-channel.
How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video [via New York Daily News] pic.twitter.com/KoNjJOqr7k
— Shawn Reynolds (@ShawnRTV6) August 26, 2015Adam Ward graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech, and had worked for the TV channel since 2011.
Just 2 weeks ago Adam Ward was pictured filming an "active shooter" during a drill #Virginiahttps://t.co/orTigcSv2rpic.twitter.com/Bh3sl5Uf6z
— Donie O'Sullivan (@donie) August 26, 2015Alison Parker graduated from James Madison University three years ago, and became a morning reporter at WDBJ7 after a successful internship in 2014, which followed a stint at WCTI News Channel 12 in Jacksonville.
Pic of @WDBJ7's Alison Parker & Adam Ward shot & killed while reporting from a water park in #Roanoke. Devastating... pic.twitter.com/NCO0U64Hu5
— Christina Ginn (@ChristinaCNN) August 26, 2015Both journalists were engaged to be married to fellow employees at the WDBJ7 channel.
Ward’s fiancée was WDBJ7 producer Melissa Ott, who had her last morning working for the channel on Wednesday. She was set to move to North Carolina, and Ward was planning to follow her there.
Congrats to our awesome @WDBJ7Mornin producer Melissa Ott on her new job in Charlotte. We will miss you! ❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/o2SYtDdO2V
— Kimberly McBroom (@KimberlyWDBJ) August 26, 2015According to CNN, Ott saw the shooting happen live on air from the channel’s control room.
Parker was dating WDBJ7 anchor Chris Hurst, who has called their time together “the best nine months of our lives.” The couple had recently moved in together and were planning to get married.
We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— 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," Hurst wrote on Twitter.
A week ago today. When Alison turned 24. Tomorrow is not promised. Can't imagine that newsroom at #WDBJ right now. pic.twitter.com/cmak9xQveJ
— Daren Stoltzfus (@DarenStoltzfus) August 26, 2015Parker turned 24 last Wednesday, and was called a "rock star" by anchor Kimberly McBroom. She reportedly enjoyed kayaking, ballet, liked to play with her parents' dog Jack and was a theater-lover.
Adam and I really got into our story today...He's dressed as Cinderella's ugly step mother and I'm an ugly step...
Posted by Alison Parker on Wednesday, 29 April 2015
One of Parker's lasts broadcast was on Tuesday, where she reported from a fundraising event at the Mill Mountain Zoo in Roanoke.
Last week she reported from Roanoke's sixth annual wingfest, where local businesses competed for the area's "best wings" title.
EDITORIAL ADVISORY: RT is not using any video footage of the shooting out of respect for the victims and their families
