The boyfriend of a female reporter shot dead during a live TV broadcast has led tributes to her, saying she was "the most radiant woman I ever met".
Alison Parker, 24, and her cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed after a gunman opened fire on the WDBJ-TV news crew during a live interview on Wednesday.
Tributes began to pour in across social media almost immediately as friends and colleagues expressed their sadness at their deaths.
Chris Hurst, a presenter for WDBJ and Ms Parker's boyfriend, posted a photograph of the couple on Twitter.
"We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb," he wrote.
"We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. ... She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back."
He added: "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."
Mr Ward was engaged to WDBJ producer Melissa Ott.
WDBJ sports director Travis Wells tweeted: "So sad right now. @AParkerWDBJ7 and Adam were two of the brightest young people I know. Gonna miss them terribly."
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
Robin Reed, a weatherman at the CBS affiliate tweeted: "Can't cope. My wife saw it live and woke me up. Worst news ever."
The station's chief meteorologist Brent Watts wrote: "So saddened by our loss today at @WDBJ. Life is so precious, and this morning we lost two precious members of our family."
Both Ms Parker and Mr Ward grew up in the Roanoke-based station's viewing area, WDBJ said.
Ms Parker attended Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University, and served as an intern at WDBJ before joining the station full-time in 2014.
Mr Ward graduated from Virginia Tech University. He was planning to move with his fiance to Charlotte, North Carolina, where she had accepted a new job.
Ms Ott was reportedly working her last day at WDBJ on Wednesday when the shooting occurred.
Vicki Gardner, who was being interviewed by Ms Parker when the gunman opened fire, was shot in the back, according to local reports.
She is in stable condition after undergoing surgery.
