MONETA, Va. (WUSA9) -- WDBJ7 Anchor Chris Hurst, who works at the Virginia TV station who lost two employees in a shooting, said on social media that he was "very much in love" with one of the victims.
In a statement he posted on Facebook, Hurst said he and reporter Alison Parker had been dating for nine months but had kept their relationship private.
The two had just moved in together and Parker had just celebrated her 24th birthday.
Hurst posted the following to his Facebook page:
We didn't share this publicly, but Alison Parker and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday. She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother. I am comforted by everyone at WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee. She is our morning show producer. This is unconscionable. But I WILL share her story because it is one full of life, dreams, love and amazing journalism. She just finished working on an incredible special on child abuse and it was fantastic. We will get through this and there will be justice. Your thoughts and prayers mean the world to me.
She was the morning reporter for WDBJ7, according to the stations website. In a tweet, WBDJ7 shared photos remembering Parker.
Parker was also from the area and graduated from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Va. in December 2012.
The university posted the following message on Facebook:
Alison Parker, one of two WDBJ journalists killed today, was a 2012 graduate of JMU. Alison earned a bachelor's degree in media arts and design, and she was a reporter and editor for the student newspaper, The Breeze. She had a passion for journalism and had a bright future. We're shocked and saddened by the news and circumstances of her death. Our thoughts are with her family, friends and colleagues.
Virginia Tech Univerisity allows expressed their condolences:
....And Alison was such a sweet and hardworking young newscaster. I have worked with both of them for nearly three years in the field and studio. Very delightful people and I loved mentoring and being with them. I just find this violence hard to fathom." – professor and chair of the Department of Communication, Robert Denton.Statement attributable to Larry Hincker, associate vice president for university relations.
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