In what is a shocking and rare occurrence, a gunman hours ago shot and killed a reporter and a photographer while they were conducting a live TV interview in Virginia, USA. A CNN report described the killing as an execution.

One of the videos of the gory incident shows the gunman approaching WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward as Parker conducted a routine interview about a local story outside Moneta, Virginia. The suspected gunman then shot himself and is reported to be in critical condition in the hospital.

In the video in question, Ward’s back is to the gunman. Parker is in profile, and the interviewee is facing the gunman. The shooter appears to take his time aiming the gun, presenting it and then withdrawing it, before composing the angle of his video. He opens fire on Parker first. Both Parker and the interviewee scream.

On air, the audience saw the camera fall to the ground and caught the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to point a gun toward the downed cameraman.

The station cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio.

Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were killed at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta, the station reported later.

Ward’s fiancée was in the control room and saw the shooting, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks told CNN.

The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back and is in surgery, said Barb Nocera, the chamber’s special projects manager said.

The gunman is believed to have fired six or seven times, Marks said.

•Adapted from a CNN report. Photo shows the victims, Alison Parker and Adam Ward.

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