MONETA, Va. – The man accused of shooting and killing a Virginia reporter and photographer on live TV shot himself and officials have confirmed he has died at the hospital.

Officials said the man was in critical condition and was pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m. ET. Wednesday.

UPDATE: State police now say man suspected of killing two WDBJ7 employees shot himself, and he is still alive http://t.co/XLx3pS2I5X — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were interviewing a woman at about 6:45 a.m. when the shots rang out and both women screamed.

As the camera fell to the ground, the audience got the briefest glimpse of a man who appeared to pointing a gun toward the downed cameraman.

State police just released this picture of the shooter suspected of killing 2 WDBJ7 employees. http://t.co/Fhs7eFJEJW pic.twitter.com/5iVlGGs1RV — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

The station cut away to a shocked anchor, Kimberly McBroom, back in the studio.

Parker and Ward were killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza near Moneta, the station reported later.

Vicki Gardner, the woman Parker was interviewing, was shot in the back and in stable condition after surgery, according to CNN .

Gardner is the executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.

The gunman is believed to have fired six or seven times, WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks said.

Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe said police believe the shooter may be a disgruntled former WDBJ7 employee.

This is the suspected shooter, Vester Flanigan, who is also known as Bryce Williams. He is a former WDBJ7 employee. pic.twitter.com/ngXrqHVLmw — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office said Vester Flanagan, a previous reporter at WDBJ who went by the name of Brice Williams, has died at the hospital after shooting himself.

Yes, thank you! RT @ShawnRTV6: How Alison Parker & Adam Ward should be remembered instead of the horrific video pic.twitter.com/5L46G4UJPe — Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent) August 26, 2015

"Our hearts are broken," Marks said on air, explaining that Parker's and Ward's colleagues are "holding back tears."

Very sad moment in the newsroom as the WDBJ GM confirms that both the reporter and photographer are dead. Senseless pic.twitter.com/qWvWd55UZh — K.C. Spiron (@KCSpiron) August 26, 2015

"You know, you send people into war zones, you send people into dangerous situations and into riots, and you worry that they are going to get hurt," Marks told CNN. "You send somebody out to do a story on tourism and -- how can you expect something like this to happen?"

McBroom described Parker as a "rock star" and said, "You throw anything at that girl and she could do it."

Another journalist at the anchor's desk said Ward was engaged to be married to a morning show producer at WDBJ and Ward recently told her, "I'm going to get out of news. I think I'm going to do something else."

Parker is the morning reporter for the Roanoke station and a native of Virginia, having spent most of her life outside Martinsville.

According to tweets, she was in a relationship with an anchor at WDBJ7, Chris Hurst; his tweets are just heartbreaking.

We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

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 — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

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. — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

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. — Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015

Parker started with WDBJ as an intern, her biography on the station's website says.

She previously worked with another CNN affiliate, WCTI, in Jacksonville, North Carolina, near Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.

She is a graduate of James Madison University's School of Media Arts and Design in Harrisonburg.

Ann and my hearts and prayers go out to the family and colleagues of @WDBJ7's Alison Parker and Adam Ward. — Mitt Romney (@MittRomney) August 26, 2015

It is with extreme sadness that we report WDBJ7's Alison Parker and Adam Ward were killed in an attack this morning. http://t.co/oC9s4vLJXV — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015

This is a horrific day for our @wdbj family and the community we serve. http://t.co/LYRDFB8C2R — Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent) August 26, 2015

We are trying to figure out what just happened -- thank you all for your concern and kind words. — WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015