It’s an extremely difficult day for the journalists working at WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia.
The station went back live on the air with their morning show on Thursday morning, less than 24 hours after watching two of their co-workers gunned down on live television.
The show started on a somber note. “This is a newscast like none other, we come to you this morning with very heavy hearts. Two of our own were shot and killed during a live shot yesterday morning,” the anchor read at the top of the show.
“Alison Parker and Adam Ward were part of our family here at the station, and many of you have told us how much they were part of your mornings every day. We can not express to you how much your love and support have meant to us over the last 24 hours or so.”
The station held a moment of silence at 6:45am — the time when Parker and Ward were killed, and a third woman was shot and injured.
The shooter was identified as 41-year-old Vester Lee Flanagan. He was a former reporter at WDBJ and went by the on-air name of Bryce Williams. He took his own life just hours after the deadly shooting.
In front of the Virginia TV station, a makeshift memorial continues to grow. Flowers, balloons, and candles were laid out in memory of reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.
