And the gunman is still at large. I hope they find him soon.
they caught him - blurry, tho - on camera, so hopefully that will help.
There is a screenshot of his face -- with him pointing a gun at the camera. It is chilling and terrifying. I almost posted it on here but it was too disturbing.
I live in Roanoke and work is (obviously) in a tizzy. People WILL NOT stop playing the video over & over with sound on. It's definitely going to haunt me.
The news station is down the street and was put on lock down. Not sure if it still is, but we've been advised to limit our coming and going. The doors automatically lock and you need a fob to get in.
The shooting happened outside of town near a lake and wooded area. I hope they find him soon - he had a lot of escape route options.
I really, really feel like it's simply a matter of time before I (or someone I'm close to) is randomly shot to death.
It's not safe at work. In a house of worship. In government buildings. In school. On a train. At the movies. In a mall. Doing their homework sitting on the bed at home.
I read mbcdefg's comment above and now I have a depressing version of Green Eggs and Ham playing in my head.
I could get murdered at my desk. I could get killed praying my best. I could get killed in a government building. I could get killed under my own ceiling. Or in a school or on a train or at a film or in the rain. I could get murdered here or there. I could get murdered anywhere.
My God, that was horrifying to see. The look on the anchor's face when they cut back to her in the studio was heartbreaking. I can't imagine what that was like to experience.
We have a lot of issues in this country, but I am SO, SO sick of the excuses of how it's not the guns. If more guns were the answer, we should have the LEAST amount of gun violence in the world, but we have the most. I don't deny this is a complicated issue with many factors including mental health and whatnot, but come the fuck on. The guns are a real actual problem, too. Stop pretending they're not.
I know online speculation is running rampant. It's been suggested this is a former news station disgruntled employee. I hope they catch him soon. That was nauseating to watch. I regret that.
Fuck. This just makes me so angry and heartbroken. And my MIL is staying here right now, and she has literally said "they will take my guns from my cold dead hands" so I just can't wait for the dinner conversation tonight. Fuck.
Her boyfriend who worked at the station posted this:
Chris Hurst Wdbj added 8 new photos. 46 mins ยท We didn't share this publicly, but Alison Parker and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday. She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother. I am comforted by everyone at WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee. She is our morning show producer. This is unconscionable. But I WILL share her story because it is one full of life, dreams, love and amazing journalism. She just finished working on an incredible special on child abuse and it was fantastic. We will get through this and there will be justice. Your thoughts and prayers mean the world to me.