Alison Parker was interviewing a woman at approximately 6:45 a.m. when shots rang out. Both women screamed.

As the camera fell to the ground, the audience caught the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to pointing a gun toward the downed cameraman.

The station cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio.

Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27, were killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta, the station reported later.

The woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was shot in the back and is in surgery, said Barb Nocera, the chamber's special projects manager said.

The gunman is believed to have fired six or seven times, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks said.

He remains on the loose. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is participating in the manhunt, while the ATF and FBI are participating in the investigation. Area schools are on lockdown.

Authorities know the identity of the man believed to be the shooter, a law enforcement official told CNN.

THE REPUBLICANS ARE FOOLS.  GUNS KILL PEOPLE.