Grieving US TV station regroups after deaths: ‘We come to you with heavy hearts’

The station then went into a series of news pieces on the shooting, including about the criminal investigation.

At 6:45 a.m., WDBJ observed a moment of silence. It marked the exact same time Parker and Ward were killed Wednesday by a former station employee during a live interview.

During a weather report, Leo Hirsbrunner became emotional while recalling how Ward would come over to the weather desk every morning, grab a piece of candy and hide the wrapper somewhere on the desk. Hirsbrunner said he found one of those wrappers Thursday morning.

Throughout the show, during Hirsbrunner’s periodic updates, his voice faltered. “I don’t even know how to do weather on a day like this,” he said.

Parker’s boyfriend, station anchor Chris Hurst, appeared at the station where they both worked, telling his co-workers and viewers he wants to tell his girlfriend’s story even as he grieves.

Hurst recalled how Parker’s voice could light up a room with its kindness and joy, and how excited she was about her work, including an upcoming piece on hospice care.

“Alison, what great things she could have done,” Hurst said.

Hurst said he will take a brief break from his anchor role. “You won’t be seeing me in my normal position for, who really knows how long. But hopefully not too long because Alison would want me back,” he said.

For a brief segment, a grief counsellor joined the newscasters.

“As a community, how do we take steps to move forward after something like this?” McBroom asked him.

The grief counsellor, Thomas Milam, a psychiatrist at the Carilion Clinic, said it’s important to respect that people grieve in different ways and give them space to do so. He also said it’s important to comfort children who may have seen coverage or had their schools on lock down.

“A lot of people are grieving this morning,” he said.

Jonathan Drew And John Raby, The Associated Press

by The Canadian Press

Grieving US TV station regroups after deaths: ‘We come to you with heavy hearts’

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