VOA慢速英语2015 美国两名记者在直播中遭枪杀

Gunman Kills Two Journalists During 'Live' Broadcast 美国两名记者在直播中遭枪杀

UPDATE: The suspected gunman has died of gunshot wounds. He shot himself when confronted¹ by police on a highway, officials said. The suspect, Vester Flanagan, was a former employee of the television station WDBJ. 

A gunman opened fire on an American television news crew during a ‘live’ television broadcast Wednesday morning. Two people died in the attack. They were identified as 24-year-old reporter Alison Parker and her cameraman, 27-year-old Adam Ward².

Television station WDBJ says they were attacked in South Mountain Lake, near the city of Roanoke in southwestern Virginia. Ms. Parker was questioning a local business leader when the gunman began shooting. The businesswoman was shot in the back, but survived.

The camera caught images of the suspected gunman. They show a man wearing dark clothing.

Police launched³ a search for the suspect, who fled the area. He was identified as Vester Flanigan, a former employee of the television station where the two victims had worked.

Officials say the suspect shot himself when police found him on a road outside Washington, D.C. He was at first reported to have died. But it was learned⁴ later that he survived his own gunshot and was taken to a hospital in “very critical condition.”

Vester Flanigan also was known as Bryce Williams. Two social media accounts linked to that name were used after the shooting to publicize images from the attack.

The shooting happened early Wednesday as the television station was broadcasting a ‘live’ video feed from the news crew. Another reporter for the station said, “We have no idea what happened, they were out covering a feature story - they were not covering protests⁵ or demonstrations⁶.”

The general manager of WDBJ, Jeffrey Marks, appeared during the broadcast after the attack. "We heard screaming,” he said. “We heard nothing. And then the camera fell."

The shooting took place about 190 kilometers from Virginia’s capital, Richmond.

Words in This Story

critical – adj. relating to a medical condition at which doctors are expecting a change in condition

accounts – n. a record or a business plan for services

feature story – n. a report known best for the quality of its writing

1 confronted   

面对( confront的过去式和过去分词 )； 使面对； 使对质； 处理

参考例句：

• When we confronted him, he denied everything. 我们与他当面对质时，他什么都不承认。
• The writer confronted his pile of work with determination. 那作家下决心面对成堆的工作。

2 ward   

n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开

参考例句：

• The hospital has a medical ward and a surgical ward.这家医院有内科病房和外科病房。
• During the evening picnic,I'll carry a torch to ward off the bugs.傍晚野餐时，我要点根火把，抵挡蚊虫。

3 launched   

v.发射( launch的过去式和过去分词 )；[计算机]开始（应用程序）；发动；开展（活动、计划等）

参考例句：

• He launched a bitter diatribe against the younger generation. 他对年轻一代发起了猛烈的抨击。
• The product was launched amid much fanfare worldwide. 这个产品在世界各地隆重推出。

4 learned   

adj.有学问的，博学的；learn的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
• In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里，他被视为有学问的人。

5 protests   

n.[体]抗议；抗议，反对( protest的名词复数 )v.声明( protest的第三人称单数 )；坚决地表示；申辩

参考例句：

• The protests have forced the government to back-pedal on the new tax. 抗议活动已迫使政府撤销新的税目。
• Plans to build a new mall were deep-sixed after protests from local residents. 修建新室内购物中心的计划由于当地居民反对而搁浅。

6 demonstrations   

证明( demonstration的名词复数 )； 表明； 表达； 游行示威

参考例句：

• Lectures will be interspersed with practical demonstrations. 讲课中将不时插入实际示范。
• The new military government has banned strikes and demonstrations. 新的军人政府禁止罢工和示威活动。