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TV Journalists Killed On-Air Were Shot In Head

Two journalists who were killed during a live TV broadcast were both shot in the head, state officials have revealed.

The medical examiner's office in Roanoke said that WDBJ-TV reporter Alison Parker died from gunshot wounds to the head and chest.

Cameraman Adam Ward's cause of death was given as gunshot wounds to the head and torso in the attack at Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta, on Wednesday.

Police say sacked WDBJ reporter Vester Flanagan fired 17 shots from a Glock pistol during the attack on Ms Parker, 24, and Mr Ward, 27.

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office also said that writings and evidence seized from Flanagan's flat show he "closely identified" with mass murderers, including the 9/11 terrorist attackers.

Flanagan, 41, filmed himself carrying out the shooting before taking his own life during a police chase.

Vicki Gardner, the woman who survived the attack, says she never saw the gunman walk up because the camera's bright light blinded her.

The first four shots were aimed at Ms Parker, and two more were aimed at Mr Ward, according to Ms Gardner's husband, Tim.

He said Flanagan then fired at Ms Gardner, though his first couple of shots missed the local chamber of commerce chief, who was being interviewed at the time.

Flanagan was dismissed by the station in February 2013 for poor performance and a series of arguments with colleagues.

He later sued claiming he had been the victim of racial discrimination. That case was thrown out.

Flanagan filed an internal complaint against Ms Parker, claiming she had used racist phrases while she worked as an intern at the network in Roanoke in 2012.

Greg Baldwin, assistant news director at the station, said the 21 January complaint referred to Ms Parker using such phrases as going out in the "field".

Flanagan apparently took the common journalistic expression to be a racial slur referring to slavery.

Ms Parker was not disciplined over the remarks.

Her boyfriend, Chris Hurst, said Flanagan also took offence when she once remarked while they were on assignment that her friend lived on Cotton Hill Road.

Flanagan accused Ms Parker of saying "cotton" for racial reasons, according to Mr Hurst.

WDBJ news anchor Kimberly McBroom, who reacted with shock as the shooting unfolded on camera, told Sky News she had "lost two friends".

"It was just as horrible as it could possibly be," she said.