ROANOKE, Va. (AP) – The latest on the on-air killing of two TV station employees in Virginia (all times local):
5:10 a.m.
WDBJ started their 5 a.m. newscast with an image of the victims with the words “In Memory.”
Anchor Kim McBroom said on Thursday morning, “We come to you with heavy hearts. Two of our own were shot during a live shot yesterday morning.” She noted the outpouring of support that followed the deaths.
“We’ve had a lot of help,” she added, before introducing Steve Grant, an anchor from a Missouri station who came to town to help.
The station then went into a series of news pieces on the shooting, including ones about the criminal investigation, church services and a vigil at the White House.
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4:55 a.m.
The news team at WDBJ-TV is regrouping for its first morning newscast a day after two of their own were killed.
Morning anchor Kim McBroom briefly fought through tears as she prepared for the 5 a.m. newscast Thursday. She was on the air Wednesday when reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were fatally shot during a live interview.
On Thursday, McBroom was then joined on air by Steve Grant from sister station KYTV in Springfield, Missouri. While a few hugs were exchanged before the newscast, a dozen or so reporters and producers stayed focused on their work.
Senior Vice President of Broadcasting Marcia Burdick of parent-company Schurz Communications answered phones, greeted guests at the door, and did whatever she could to keep the newsroom moving.
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8 p.m.
President Barack Obama says the fatal on-air shooting of two Virginia TV station employees is heartbreaking.
Obama says “it breaks my heart every time” he reads or hears about these kinds of incidents.
“What we know is that the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism,” he said.