Chamber executive director shot by Vester Flanagan during WDJB interview in stable condition

Vicki Gardner, who was being interviewed by WDJB reporter Alison Parker, is in stable condition after being shot by Vester Flanagan.

Gardner is executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce. Parker was interviewing Gardner about tourism when Flanagan started shooting, killing Parker and cameraman Adam Ward of WDBJ-TV.

Flanagan, a former co-worker of the two slain WDBJ-TV employees, died later of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to Barb Nocera, the chamber's special projects manager, Gardner underwent surgery after being shot in the back and is recovering at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.

Chamber board chairman Troy Keaton said Gardner is "an exceptional bright light in this community."

"We stand with her 100% and are praying for her and are thankful that she is in stable condition and is in good hands. We just want her to know, and this community to know, that Vicki has been a champion for us for more than a decade.

"We're going to get together as a community and stay together and make it through this," Keaton said.

"We also continue to pray for the safe recovery of Vicki Gardner, who was wounded in this terrible incident," Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe said.