In Wake Of Virginia Tragedy, WDBJ Anchor Tells WWJ The Station Has Been Inundated With Messages Of Support

DETROIT (CBS Detroit) A heartbreaking tragedy unfolded live on air early Wednesday morning in Virginia when a gunman approached a young reporter during a live shot and opened fire, killing her and her cameraman.

The unmistakable ping of gunfire echoed on air as the camera went back to the shocked face of the anchor in the studio.

Alison Parker, 24, was dead, as was cameraman Adam Ward, 27.

Suspect Vester Flanagan, 41, a former co-worker at WDBJ CBS 7, led police on a manhunt while posting two graphic shooter's-eye-view videos of the killings to Twitter and Facebook alongside a litany of racially-based complaints about the victims. He later shot himself in a car on a rural road, and died at the hospital.

The world watched.

News anchor Nadia Singh from WDBJ called WWJ Newsradio in Detroit to say her newsroom was in shock about the incident.

"I saw Alison and Adam everyday," said Singh, who has been at the station since 2012. "They were very bright, ambitious, smart people. They knew their jobs. They did it well every day. They brought 110 (percent) every day, both of them. "

She added she had worked briefly with Flanagan, but didn't want to say much else about him. Many have weighed in on his troubled history, which was littered with complaints about what he considered bad treatment at many jobs. He was eventually let go from WDBJ.

Singh said since the shooting happened, "we have been inundated with phone calls, texts, tweets, messages, even deliveries" from concerned viewers. People are calling from around the country and around the world to offer support and sorrow.

"They are calling to give their support, their condolences for these two young people who were clearly lost way too soon," she added.

Also shocked was Sheriff Bill Overton, who led a press conference about the event Wednesday afternoon. He said he had recently been interviewed by Parker and Ward for an early morning news segment.

He was watching them on the news when gunfire erupted. "It really stopped me in my tracks," Overton said, adding that he felt very emotional about the incident.

He added: "Please continue to keep these families in your prayers."