The phrase references a tragic event that occurred in August 2015. It describes the on-air murder of two journalists, reporter Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward, employed by WDBJ7, a CBS affiliate television station in Roanoke, Virginia. The incident transpired during a live morning broadcast while the pair were conducting an interview at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia.
The event underscored the vulnerability of journalists in the field and ignited discussions surrounding gun control, mental health issues, and the impact of social media on violent acts. The perpetrator, a former WDBJ7 employee named Vester Flanagan, filmed his actions and uploaded the video to social media platforms before taking his own life as police pursued him. The killings shocked the local community, the journalism profession, and the nation, prompting widespread grief and condemnation.
