I was watching TV this morning, when there was a news alert: Two reporters in Roanoke, Virginia, had been shot and killed while doing a live interview on the early morning news. A reporter, Alison Parker, 24, and a cameraman, Adam Ward, 27, were the victims.
They were not sure who could have done such a heinous thing, at first, but then a somewhat blurry picture was released of the gunman.
I said to Hubby, that the picture was good enough, that people would be able to make his face out, and know who he was.
In less than an hour, they knew who it was. A former, disgruntled employee, that had been fired nearly two years ago. From all accounts, he was difficult to get along with and was a disruptive presence at the TV station, which led to his dismissal.
And then, for two years he waited. He waited and he planned and obtained a gun and illegal bullets, and planned again. The biggest question now is, how did he know they were doing the live interview at this shopping area at 6:45 AM on Wednesday?
I guess it doesn’t really matter now. We cannot bring back those two wonderful, young, lives. And the shooter is dead, having taken his own life, once he felt that he had finally been the center of attention on the TV and the Internet.
Yes, this very sick man, filmed himself shooting these innocent people and then posted it to Facebook. They got it down pretty quickly, but the segment is out there.
I told Hubby that what bothers me, is that this man was criminally insane, and should have been in a mental health facility long ago. However, the USA, in all their progressiveness, no longer does anything for the truly mentally ill.
Men and women like this man, are out these and will commit terrible crimes against humanity just because our country is failing to protect our communities from criminally insane people.
What Hubby wants to know is, how this TV station could have hired such a troubled man, who had been released from 6 other stations before being let go by this one.
My heart aches for the family and friends of Alison and Adam. Their lives should not have ended doing a live interview at 6:45 in the morning.