As most Americans know, reporter Alison Parker and camera man Adam Ward of WDBJ7 were shot on live TV this morning by an evil man who filmed himself as he did it. He posted the videos on Twitter and Facebook, and before they were removed, the videos were shared on the internet.
Before you watch those videos, I encourage you to consider this:
1. You are giving this killer exactly what he wanted: attention, infamy, and vengeance in a very public way. He wanted to kill and make you watch it. Resist him in the only way he can be resisted at this point.
2. You are dishonoring the memory of the victims. If your child had been murdered and there was a video of it, would you want people to be needlessly watching out of morbid curiosity? Do unto these victims’ loved ones as you would have them do unto you.
3. You are traumatizing yourself by taking on the sick perspective of an evil killer. There is a time to expose yourself to the horrors of evil because you need information, and there are other times when it is done to satisfy a sick sense of curiosity. If you’re going to traumatize yourself, make sure it’s for a good cause.
There is little value in watching this man’s video, and mark my words, if you choose to do so, you will take a piece of his sick mind into your soul. It’s not worth it, people – skip the video and use those few seconds to pray for the victims’ families and friends.
If you’d like an email with a weekly recap of what I’ve written, click here. You can also keep up with my latest articles (and more) on Facebook or Twitter.
Joshua Rogers 
I don’t watch much news or pay attention to it on social media. I did see something in passing about a video and a murder, but didn’t realize it was this. 😦 Thanks for this article. My heart hurts for the families of these two people.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Such a good point! Thanks for sharing. What a tremendous loss.
LikeLike
I think we should stop showing Williams picture it only makes him a focus lets focus on our poor victims. May god rest their souls! it is such a tragedy!
LikeLike
Trying to spin this as a crazy racial murder a la Charleston (as conservative media is desparately trying to do) is totally unethical and dishonest. It was obviously a crazy disgruntled employee who just latched onto Charleston as an excuse for what he wanted to do. hell, he could have picked the recent racist incident towards the black ladies on the Napa Valley Wine Train…
LikeLike
I don’t even thing this qualifies as a disgruntled employee. I think he was fire a couple years ago. I agree he was crazy and this belongs in the isolated crazy incidents catagory, just like the other freak shootings we have had over the years. Both sides of our political spectrum use issue like these to push agendas. If there is anything to be discussed in the wake of this incident it is mental health.
LikeLike
The guy applied for his weapon 2 days after the Church shooting. Educate yourself before you blame people for trying to push an agenda. Let’s give the media a little bit of credit here for basing their reports on facts. (they’ve had a very bad day)
LikeLike
You know this to be factual by what evidence?
LikeLike
He did send a letter saying he decided this after he saw
the Charleston shooting
LikeLike
Pretty sure the footage was from the cameraman he shot. That is how he was identified and found. This is what the station that these young reporters worked for has been reporting.
LikeLike
There is additional footage that came directly from the shooter. I’m disappointed to see that some websites are actually showing it.
>
LikeLike
The CBS Evening news showed some still footage from what had to be the gunman’s video. They warned it was graphic and I unfortunately assumed it was the same footage I had seen live this morning from the cameraman who was killed. I wish they had said it was from the gunman’s video so I would not have watched. So terribly, terribly tragic!
LikeLike
This happened on my Fed Ex route today about an hour before I get to that area… this is a wonderful area, such a tragedy…
LikeLike
I wouldn’t waste my time or energy watching this sick bastard’s video…please excuse the language because I never use this kind of language but this is the only way to describe him. My thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of the victims. There is no way I would glorify this piece of trash’s name by watching these videos.
LikeLike
I know how horrible it is. My mother was stabbed to death in front of me when I was 6. Her blood poured all over me. The world is going crazy and God is going to have his day.
LikeLike
So sorry you had to go through that I had similar experience at 11 years old,have u ever been diagnosed with PTSD? What helped u through it?
LikeLike
I disagree watch the video see the horror and ask why guns are so easy to get. It is not like the movies her screams are real and the last sounds she will ever make because a man with an agenda can walk into a store and buy a gun with less paper work than buying a house or getting a permit to protest gun laws.
LikeLike
Thanks very much for your advice. I was about to watch the videos but your advice stopped me from such ignorant act.
LikeLike
Wow this is a retarded article to write and a waste of your life that you will never get back. The article made no difference whatsoever because you obviously are telling people to not do…what your curiosity and YOU chose to do. Your curiosity and you wanting to see the evil twisted video obviously got the better of you. You knowing what it was because the title of the video clearly states what you about to watch….you trying to write an article what the title already states just to get exposure is so stupid and hypocrisy at its finest.
LikeLike
“…you will take a sick piece of his mind into your soul.” …what?
LikeLike
It’s the devils spirit,in him people need to realize this.we have taken God out of everything,when you take God out of everything,the devil takes over.It’s a shame that innocent people had to die,because of this man’s problems.
LikeLike
…here’s a thought…Perhaps, people, like the writer of this article, ought to spend their time worrying less about what others are doing…and more about themselves. As it happens…I don’t care to watch the video because seeing a senseless act of violence committed on film does not appeal to me. But…if I did care to see it…that would be my choice….And I assure you, no ridiculous article like this one would dissuade me. What was that point about taking pieces of the killer’s warped mind into my own…or some such nonsense??? Stupid. And offensive. It suggests that readers are not sensible, unable to distinguish right from wrong….incapacitated with small, weak minds which are easily molded by outside influence, however grossly evil or unjust. Just….dumb.
LikeLike
But you watched it and went against everything you just said…
LikeLike
It’s perfectly fine to watch it if Hollywood does it though. Because no matter how sick and twisted, it’s not real.
LikeLike
I saw some footage of this on a news link and I clicked it thinking it was a news bulletin…(It played automatically) after briefly viewing the 10 second clip, I learned a few things.
First of all I would like to counter that this man is dead and he will never know if his little “message” will be heard or how many people have viewed his tapes. Secondly I learned that you need to be aware of your surroundings… if anything the person being interviewed could have glanced over and seen a GUN pointed at all of them. I am not saying that this unfortunate episode is anyone persons fault I am saying that everyone should ALWAYS be aware of what is going on around you… No one is safe all the time…I am very,very sad for these people…
I will not watch anymore videos related to this incident, but I am at least glad I did see what I saw and am once again reminded of how fleeting life can be and how precious.
LikeLike
We need to call out the advertisers and stations that are broadcasting a Snuff film. That’s what this is, and to sell advertising around it is disgusting. Please start a petition, or I will if others will support it.
LikeLike
Thank you so much for the time you put into this article. It’s exactly what I have told everyone around me! That is exactly what he wanted and the poor families shouldn’t have to worry about if they go on the Internet would they see that awful video! I hope this article goes viral and gets triple the hits as that video!
LikeLike
Thank you VERY much!!! Yesterday, what the killer (I refuse to say his name, b/c he is NOT worthy of being recognized) wanted the world to see is STILL circulating on FaceBook. The actual video of him shooting Alison Parker and Adam Ward was on at least two FB pages. After reporting ‘the video’ of that was still circulating on both sites, I received the following response from FaceBook: Thank you for taking the time to report something that you feel may violate our Community Standards. Reports like yours are an important part of making Facebook a safe and welcoming environment. We reviewed the post you reported for containing graphic violence and found it doesn’t violate our Community Standards.
The SECOND RESPONSE I received:Thanks for your report. Facebook is a place where people can share their experiences and raise awareness about issues important to them. However, after hearing feedback from our community, we now limit visibility of this type of content to people older than 18. We may also display a warning to let people know about the content in this post before they view it. Learn more about how we respond to posts with violent or graphic content.
My next reply to them …
Seriously? So you are telling me that this video of the gunman videoing in one hand and a gun in the other, shooting the reporter, cameraman, and interviewee is NOT graphic violence? I don’t give a crap if it says ‘Graphic Violence’ (OBVIOUSLY it’s said right there!!!!!!) before watching; it will also play if you click on a different link with NO warning!!!!! If this (MURDER!!!!!!!!!!!!!) isn’t an act of ‘graphic violence’, then why were all of the videos pulled from FB yesterday when they first started circulating? I understand you cannot pull each and every on of them, but by pulling the ones that are reported is a good start. In addition, you have several polices that in my opinion you are not adhering to, one of which is:
Criminal Activity: How we handle reports of criminal activity on Facebook.
We prohibit the use of Facebook to facilitate or organize criminal activity that causes physical harm to people, businesses or animals, or financial damage to people or businesses. We work with law enforcement when we believe there is a genuine risk of physical harm or direct threats to public safety.
We also prohibit you from celebrating any crimes you’ve committed. We do, however, allow people to debate or advocate for the legality of criminal activities, as well as address them in a humorous or satirical way.
– Yes, the killer died…is that why it’s still circulating? Now that he isn’t a creditable threat? If you read all of the comments posted with this video, you probably should have pulled it anyway. You are violating other polices that are posted as well. If nothing else, I’d encourage you to pull the video out of respect.
– That 18yrs and older is like telling a 13yr old to stay off of Youtube! As I read your ‘precautions’, do you really think they work? Please use your common sense.
LikeLike
This is true
I hadn’t thought about it that way
Thank you and let’s continue to pray for the families of these practically innocent victims
LikeLike
1) if you believe this then i also trust you never watch any news report, as they talk about numerous murders or other dishonoring acts every hour!
2) you aren’t dishonoring any memory on the victim. you can watch a morbid video without harming any memory. heck maybe itll want you to learn about them more and find good things they did
3) people have the right to watch what they want. people are good judges of what they can and cant handle. if you can handle seeing someone die then nothings gonna change. if you cant, then you prolly didnt think to watch it in the first place
LikeLike
FYI I don’t watch the news because it informs me of how sick People can be. It informs me that ALL media has an agenda. TV show Me things I can’t afford, things I never buy because I see them on TV. Makes me feel like public officials are up to NO GOOD. The country is going to shit. Officials send our troops to places they don’t need to be to DIE for Congresses agenda, We the People owe money to China. Send all Our good jobs to other countries. Tells Me other countries kids are smarter and have better educations. Extremists are killing people over Religion and taking over the world from inside Our own country. Telling Me that I have more rights but actually they are being taken away. Telling me people are going to have their guns taken away or can’t carry them because some mental case killed people.
Just as sick people will find a way to kill someone.
People will find a way to see and share what matters to them.
If We don’t talk about Evil does that mean it doesn’t happen?
LikeLike
[…] Before You Watch the Videos of the Virginia Murder […]
LikeLike