Third victim in good condition, conscious at CRMH after being shot during live interview

Vicki Gardner (Copyright by WSLS - All rights reserved)

ROANOKE (WSLS 10) - Roanoke Carilion Memorial Hospital issued an updated statement following the shooting of three people at Smith Mountain Lake.

Two members of CBS affiliate WDBJ7's crew were killed during a live interview with Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce's Vicki Gardner for SML's 50th Anniversary.

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Gardner had a second surgery after being in a medically induced coma. WSLS 10 was told that all has gone well and she is no longer sedated - meaning she is able to talk to her family for the first time since the surgery.

She's shared some details but is not ready to speak publicly. Gardner is looking at about three months of recovery. Her husband, Tim Gardner, says she's in good spirits.

Tim Gardner says the gunman missed his wife twice, and she then dove to the ground, curled up in a ball, and was shot in the back.

He says that after the attack, Vicki Gardner got up and walked to the ambulance after being shot, and she didn't know the extent of her injuries at that point.

He adds: "But the surgeon told me that a couple of centimeters and she wouldn't be walking, and a couple of centimeters more and she wouldn't be alive."

Gardner's friends and family attended a vigil in her honor during Thursday Mass at Resurrection Catholic Church.

The following statement was released by the hospital Wednesday:

Our hearts are heavy today with the tragic loss of WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward in a senseless shooting at Smith Mountain Lake. Our Carilion Clinic family had gotten to know Alison and Adam well in recent years, spending many early mornings with them during live TV reports from our facilities throughout the region. Alison and Adam were more than journalists to us -- they were good friends who will be missed.

A third victim in this morning's shooting was Vicki Gardner, a close friend and member of the Carilion Franklin Memorial Hospital Board of Directors. Vicki was transported to Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital and underwent emergency surgery. She is currently recovering and is in stable condition.

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the family and friends of Alison, Adam and Vicki, as well as our friends at WDBJ7, during this very difficult time.

(The Associated Press contributed to this report)


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