Slain Virginia journalist’s boyfriend shares heart wrenching insight

By now, the story of the two Virginia journalists who were shot and killed on camera yesterday has been covered by just about every news outlet in the country, and it’s stirring up some very understandable sadness, and some not-so-understandable controversy.

Some are attempting to turn the story into a race issue, while others are turning it into a Second Amendment debate. Personally, I think it’s much too soon for any of that.

Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Image from telegraph.co.uk.

Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Image from telegraph.co.uk.

Before we try to define the problem, or square off across lines of debate, I think it’s important to remember that the two slain journalists were people with hopes, dreams, and loved ones.

It’s easy in today’s world of reactionary politics and sentiments to forget that the folks telling stories on our TV and computer screens are every bit as human as anyone else.

The two journalists who were killed were 24-year-old reporter Alison Parker, and 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward.

The person suspected of killing them was 41-year-old Vester Flanagan, who took his own life just hours after the shooting. He was a former employee of the news station, WDBJ7, a CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia.

As news outlets scrambled to cover the shocking story yesterday, and online comments sections lit up with heartfelt condolences and vitriolic rants, a co-worker of Parker and Ward brought the frenzy to a screeching halt, at least for those who’ve had the chance to see his Facebook post, in which he also opened up about his intimate relationship with Parker.

Chris Hurst, another journalist at WDBJ7, had this to say about the tragic event:

In less than a day, Hurst’s post has over 400 thousand Facebook likes, and nearly 100 thousand shares. A testament to the compassion of people that can be so easy to forget about at times like this.

Chris Shorr

About Chris Shorr

Chris is a sixth generation Portlander who loves all things Maine. He has worked with mentally ill and marginalized adults at a Portland non-profit, on a lobster boat in Casco Bay, at several high-end Portland restaurants, and at a local meat packing plant. He also ran for Portland City Council in 2013, wrote a weekly column in the now defunct Portland Daily Sun, and currently writes a weekly column in The Portland Phoenix.