Live TV shooting survivor faces long recovery
ROANOKE, Virginia (WTVD) -- The husband of on-air shooting survivor Vicki Gardner says his wife lost a kidney and part of her colon, and faces three months of convalescence.
Tim Gardner said in a telephone interview Thursday his heart goes out to the families of Roanoke, Virginia, television reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward. They were killed Wednesday by gunman Vester Flanagan as they interviewed Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Despite his sorrow, Tim Gardner says he's overjoyed that his wife of 40 years is alive. He says she was shot on the right side of her lower back while dropping to the ground in an attempt to avoid the bullets.
He said, "I would hate to have lost my partner of 40 years to a madman."
He says his wife is in good spirits, surrounded by family members at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
He says Vicki didn't hear any reaction from the WDBJ-TV journalists as Flanagan approached them. She said she didn't see him because the camera lights were in her eyes.
After she was on the ground, Flanagan stood over her and tried to shoot her again, but the gun misfired.
She was able to walk to the ambulance.
Flanagan had been fired from the station in 2013.
