The on-camera shooting of two Roanoke, Virginia-area journalists on Wednesday morning sparked nationwide terror and a manhunt for the man suspected of killing WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker and and videographer Adam Ward. But a series of poignant, heart-wrenching tweets from Parker’s boyfriend laid bare the tragic human consequences of the horrific episode.
Chris Hurst, a fellow WDBJ7 reporter, revealed Wednesday that he and Parker had been in a relationship and recently moved in together. Calling Parker “the most radiant woman I ever met,” he paid tribute to the 24-year-old broadcaster and expressed gratitude to his colleagues for their support:
We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstnews) August 26, 2015
We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.We just celebrated her 24th birthday
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstnews) August 26, 2015
She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstnews) August 26, 2015
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstnews) August 26, 2015
Hurst’s last tweet refers to Melissa Ott, victim Adam Ward’s fiancee. CNN media reporter Brian Stelter tweeted this morning that Ott worked in the WDBJ7 control room and witnessed the shooting as it happened:
WDBJ photographer Adam Ward's fiancé Melissa Ott was in the control room — she saw the shooting happen live.
— Brian Stelter (@brianstelter) August 26, 2015
