[Controversial] Two WDBJ7 Television Journalists Killed Live On Air [GRAPHIC CONTENT]

Two journalists for a local television station in the US state of Virginia have been shot dead during a live broadcast, by a disgruntled former employee who later shot himself and died in hospital.

WDBJ7 journalist Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were shot at close range while conducting an on-air interview.

Virginia governor Terry McAuliffe said the gunman was a disgruntled former employee of the television station.

He was identified as Vester Flanagan, 41, according to a dispatcher for the Augusta County Sheriff's Department. Stills pulled from Ward's camera helped identify him.

Parker was talking to Vicki Gardner, head of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, on a balcony at the lakeside Bridgewater Resort in the town of Moneta near Roanoke when the attack occurred.

The pair were talking about tourism development for WDBJ's early-morning newscast when the gunman seemingly closed in from behind the cameraman.

Several shots were heard, as well as screams, as Ward's camera fell to the floor, capturing a fuzzy and chilling glimpse of the gunman, dressed in dark clothing.

The station then cut away to a startled anchorwoman back in the studio.

Gardner was "seriously injured," said one of the US senators from Virginia, Tim Kaine.

Later, a video posted under the Twitter account @bryce_williams7, showed the shooter brandishing a weapon at Parker, who was interviewing Ms Gardner and unaware of his presence.

Ward has his back to the apparent shooter and also apparently did not see him.

The shooter seems to briefly lower the camera.

Multiple shots are then heard, and screams. Parker runs away.

The shooter's hand is clearly visible. He appears to be wearing a blue checkered shirt.

None of the victims are seen wounded. There is no blood in the footage.

Flanagan shot himself as Virginia State Police were closing in on a rental car on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County, WDBJ7 said.

Virginia state police said the suspect refused to stop when spotted by troopers and sped away.

"Minutes later, the suspect's vehicle ran off the road and crashed. The troopers approached the vehicle and found the male driver suffering from a gunshot wound," police said in a statement.

He was taken to a nearby hospital where he died, police said.

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