I have had an eery feeling ever since last Wednesday when I heard the news that two WDBJ-TV journalists were shot and killed by a former co-worker while broadcasting a live segment in  southwestern Virginia.

Twenty-four-year-old reporter Alison Parker and 27-year-old cameraman Adam Ward were simply doing their jobs when they were shot by gunman Vester Flanagan.

Flanagan, a former co-worker at the TV station, later died from self-inflicted gunshot wounds. He had been fired from the station more than two years prior.

I grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, where WDBJ7 is headquartered, and I still consider it to be my hometown. I have watched with much interest — and heartbreak — as I see how these deaths are impacting my hometown community and the others, like myself, who grew up there and have moved away.

I didn’t know Parker or Ward personally, but I have felt a connection to them as a fellow journalist. Before I knew anything about their killer, I thought back to all of the court cases, crime scenes and other events I have covered over the years and how that could have literally been me. All it takes is one disgruntled person, one person who is unhappy with coverage or a person who is dealing with a mental health crisis.

It’s a scary thought.

I have talked with my mom, who still lives in Roanoke with my dad, a few times in the last week and one of the first things she said to me when we talked after the shooting was that she had been thinking about me. I think at that moment she acknowledged I don’t always get to cover features and happy news. In the journalism industry, sometimes we have to cover not-so-great news too.

Sometimes it’s a thankless job, yet it is one we believe in strongly. It’s what we do.

In that same conversation with my mother, she told me of one of her co-workers whose husband was invited to attend the live broadcast at Smith Mountain Lake the morning Parker and Ward were killed.

He decided not to attend, and I can only imagine how shaken up his wife was knowing he could have been there as well.

Despite all the stories of tragedy and heartache, however, I have been more impressed with stories of unity and triumph.

I have heard about vigils being held, memorials of flowers being erected and scholarships already been set up in honor of Parker and Ward.

Even the Virginia Tech football players were slated to  honor the journalists with a special helmet decal for their season opener Monday night.

It is touching to see how people of all walks of life have come together to show support.

My father on Sunday attended an interfaith service to remember Parker and Ward at the Jefferson Center in Roanoke. He didn’t know Parker or Ward but attended with a few of the other leaders of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints congregation.

The service was attended by about 500 people and included remarks from WDBJ-TV General Manager Jeffrey Marks and prayers from many of the religious leaders.

Though I am saddened to see many people in my hometown struggling with the events of the last week, I am touched to see how this has brought the community together.

Please keep Roanoke and the WDBJ family in your thoughts and prayers.

 

Sarah Stultz is the managing editor of the Tribune.