Two journalists killed during live television broadcast in US

The gunman was taken into police custody after he shot himself at the end of a pursuit

WASHINGTON: Two American TV journalists were shot dead during live reporting in rural Virginia on Wednesday, a local news network reported.

24-year-old Alison Parker and 27-year-old Adam Ward, employees of local TV station WDBJ7, were holding a live broadcast around 6:45 am local time when an armed man opened fire at them.



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"We do not know the motive. We do not know who the suspect or the killer is," said WDBJ general manager Jeffrey Marks as he confirmed the deaths to viewers.

Later the suspected gunman, Bryce Williams reportedly tweeted that Parker had issued racist remarks. He also posted videos of him carrying out the attack on his social media accounts. His Twitter and Facebook accounts have since been suspended.

This is the suspected shooter, Vester Flanigan, who is also known as Bryce Williams. He is a former WDBJ7 employee. pic.twitter.com/ngXrqHVLmw

— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

WDBJ is located in the southern Virginia city of Roanoke.

The gunman was taken into police custody with "life-threatening injuries" after apparently shooting himself, Virginia state police said.

"Troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound. He is being transported to a nearby hospital for treatment of life-threatening injuries," police said in a statement.

He later succumbed to the injuries.

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The woman that Parker was interviewing on a balcony at the lakeside Bridgewater Resort in the town of Moneta, near Roanoke, was reportedly wounded.

Parker was talking to the woman about tourism development for WDBJ's early-morning newscast when the gunman seemingly closed in from behind.

Several shots were heard, as well as screams, as Ward's camera fell to the floor, capturing a fuzzy image of the gunman, dressed in dark clothing.

The station then cut away to a startled anchorwoman back in the studio.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said on Twitter that he was "heartbroken over (the) senseless murders."

Virginia state police were working with local authorities to capture the gunman, he said.