Slain journalist Alison Parker and her boyfriend Chris Hurst had just moved in together before she was shot and killed while she was on the job Wednesday.
Cameraman Adam Ward was also killed after a gunman approached from behind, firing multiple shots at the pair. Hurst expressed his disbelief on Twitter shortly after TV station WDBJ confirmed the deaths.
“We will get through this and there will be justice,” said Hurst in a Facebook message. “Your thoughts and prayers mean the world to me.”
Her father issued a statement calling his 24-year-old daughter a “bright, shining light” who was “cruelly extinguished.”
Parker and Ward were conducting a live interview with Smith Lake Chamber of Commerce head Vicki Gardner when shots rang out around 6:45 a.m.
Garner was hurt in the shooting and is recovering from surgery, according to WDBJ7.
Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said he’s “heartbroken” over the incident and added that the gunman is a “disgruntled” station worker.
Back at the studio, colleagues remained in shock over an act of violence station manager Jeff Marks called a “terrible crime against two fine journalists.”
Outside the station, a memorial in tribute to the two reporters started to grow.
“Today was just like any other day,” said news anchor Kimberly McBroom. “They did great work every day and put their all into everything they did.”
“They would lighten up a room.”
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