“She just laid there playing possum”: Survivor’s husband recounts story of on-air shooting

By David Dishneau And John Raby, The Associated Press

ROANOKE, Va. – The chamber of commerce official who was answering questions about her community on live TV when gunfire erupted said she never saw the gunman walk up to the group.

Vicki Gardner, who is executive director of the resort area’s chamber of commerce, says the camera’s bright light blinded her. She was wounded as she fell to the ground after hearing the first shots, her husband said Friday.

The gunman, Vester Flanagan, ambushed WDBJ-TV cameraman Adam Ward and reporter Alison Parker during the interview Wednesday at the Smith Mountain Lake Visitor Center.

The first four shots were aimed at Parker, and two more were aimed at Ward, Gardner’s husband Tim said in a telephone interview from the hospital where she is recovering. Then he fired at Gardner, though his first couple of shots missed her.

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