While heartfelt tributes to Alison Parker and Adam Ward have poured in to the WDBJ7 television station from across the country, the station has been honoring them in its own way.
Thursday morning's TV broadcast showed anchors and leaders of the station on the newsroom set holding hands and speaking of the reporter and photojournalist, who were killed at gunpoint Wednesday. The staff conducted a moment of silence for Parker and Ward on the morning show.
Your words, calls, emails mean more than we can express. A very sincere thank you for your support. http://t.co/nyyzWDaePo
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
"We want to share with you once again what made these two so special, not just to us, but to all of our hometowns that WDBJ7 serves," Anchor Kimberly McBroom said just before a pause with no sound, during which photos of Parker and Ward aired.
McBroom thanked viewers and said the station's staff is hurting.
Though they lost two of their own, @WDBJ7 journalists still had to deliver the news today http://t.co/QBg0zEgkgUpic.twitter.com/YBOr9u4Eyd
— Mashable (@mashable) August 27, 2015
Parker, a 24-year-old reporter, and Ward, a 27-year-old photojournalist, were paired as a team on many stories. They were filming a live broadcast on Wednesday when a former WDBJ7 reporter approached and shot them. He also shot Vicki Gardner, a representative of a Chamber of Commerce whom Parker was interviewing.
Gardner survived, and WBDJ reports today she is in good condition.
WDBJ7 also published a photo gallery memorializing Ward and Parker, and launched a page for the public to share condolences.
Police sought the shooter immediately after the assassinations and found him dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. A manifesto he faxed to ABC News the day of the shootings said he did it in retaliation for racially charged shooting deaths this summer in Charleston, South Carolina, and what he believed to be discrimination toward him while he worked as a TV reporter.
My heart goes out to the two journalists who were shot in Virginia this morning. My show airs on @WDBJ7 every day. Sending love to you all.
— Ellen DeGeneres (@TheEllenShow) August 26, 2015