<P> News reporter Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward, employees of CBS affiliate WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia, United States, were fatally shot on August 26, 2015, while conducting a live television interview near Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta . The news team was interviewing Vicki Gardner, executive director of the local chamber of commerce, when all three were attacked by a gunman . Parker, age 24, and Ward, age 27, died at the scene while Gardner survived . </P> <P> The gunman was 41 - year - old Vester Lee Flanagan II, also known by the professional pseudonym of Bryce Williams, a former reporter at WDBJ . The station fired him for disruptive conduct in 2013 . After a manhunt that lasted for almost five hours, he shot himself during a car chase with police officers and died later at a hospital . </P> <P> Parker and Ward were conducting a live interview with Gardner at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia, about upcoming events for the 50th anniversary of Smith Mountain Lake, located 26 miles (42 km) southeast of Roanoke . The shooting occurred at 6: 46 a.m. Eastern Time in the middle of the segment, which was broadcast on WDBJ's morning news program, Mornin' . Video of the incident showed Parker conducting the interview, before at least eight gunshots were heard, followed by screams . Ward's camera fell to the ground, briefly capturing the image of Flanagan holding a Glock 19 9mm pistol . </P> <P> WDBJ production master control operators then switched back to Mornin' anchor Kimberly McBroom at the station's news studio, seemingly confused by what had just happened . She later said she believed the noises could have been a car backfiring or shots being fired in the background . </P>

Wdbj tv news crew during a live report in virginia