>>> WELCOME BACK. IT WAS A CRIME THAT SHOCKED THE
NATION.
NATION. THREE YEARS AGO, A VIRGINIA TV
REPORTER AND HER CAMERAMAN WERE
SHOT AND KILLED DURING A LIVE
BROADCAST.
BROADCAST. >> THAT TRAGEDY, THAT TRAGIC
DAY, CHANGED CHRIS HEARST’S LIFE
AND IT SET HIM ON A NEW PATH.
AUGUST 25th, 2015, ALLISON
PARKER, A REPORTER, ALONG WITH
HER CAMERAMAN, ADAM WARD, WERE
IN THE MIDDLE OF AN INTERVIEW,
WHEN SUDDENLY, GUNFIRE ERUPTED.
>> ALLISON AND ADAM DIED THIS
MORNING WHEN THE SHOTS RANG OUT.
>> Reporter: A THIRD PERSON, WHO
WAS BEING INTERVIEWED WAS
WOUNDED BUT SURVIVED.
THE GUNMAN WAS A FORMER EMPLOYEE
OF THE NEWS STATION.
WHILE ON THE RUN, THE GUNMAN
APPEARED TO HAVE POSTED MESSAGES
AND VIDEO OF THE SHOOTING.
THIS IMAGE SHOWS HOW CLOSE HE
GOT TO HIS VICTIMS.
SOON AFTERWARDS, WHILE POLICE
WERE CLOSING IN, THE GUNMAN SHOT
HIMSELF IN THE CAR HE WAS
DRIVING.
DRIVING. HE DIED A SHORT TIME LATER.
>> I CANNOT TELL YOU HOW MUCH
THEY WERE LOVED, ALLISON AND
ADAM, BY THE TEAM.
>> Reporter: PARKER’S BOYFRIEND,
CHRIS HEARST, WAS AN ANCHOR.
>> SHE LOVED ME MORE THAN --
MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE COULD.
AND I LOVED HER BACK.
A LOVE THAT WAS GENUINE AND A
LOVE THAT I HOPE EVERYBODY ELSE
GETS TO EXPERIENCE, AT LEAST
ONCE IN THEIR LIFE.
>> Reporter: IN 2017, TWO YEARS
AFTER THE SHOOTING, HEARST
DECIDED TO LEAVE HIS JOB AT THE
STATION.
STATION. HE ENTERED POLITICS, RUNNING FOR
STATE DELEGATE IN VIRGINIA’S
12th HOUSE DISTRICT.
>> HI.
>> HI. I’M CHRIS HEARST.
I’M RUNNING FOR DELEGATE.
>> Reporter: NOW, THE NEW
DOCUMENTARY CALLED "VIRGINIA 12"
FOLLOWS HEARST’S GRASSROOTS
CAMPAIGN.
CAMPAIGN. >> I HAD IT IN THE BACK OF MY
HEAD TO DO SOMETHING LARGER THAN
MYSELF IN RESPONSE TO WHAT
HAPPENED TO ME AND ALLISON AND A
WAY TO SHOW PEOPLE THAT YOU
DON’T HAVE TO LET GRIEF AND
TRAGEDY AND THE RANDOM OBSCENITY
OF LIFE JUST TEAR YOU DOWN.
>> Reporter: THE DOCUMENTARY
GIVES VIEWERS A FRONT ROW SEAT
ON ELECTION DAY, AS THE RESULTS
CAME IN.
CAME IN. >> THANK YOU.
>> Reporter: A WIN FOR HURST.
CHRIS HURST IS WITH US THIS
MORNING.
MORNING. GOOD TO SEE YOU, BUDDY.
THANKS FOR COMING IN.
>> GOOD TO BE WITH YOU.
>> YOU WENT BACK TO WORK TWO
WEEKS AFTER ALLISON WAS KILLED.
AT WHAT POINT DID YOU REALIZE, I
CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE?
I CAN’T BE A TV NEWS ANCHOR?
>> I THINK IT WAS SOON
AFTERWARD.
AFTERWARD. I KNEW THAT I NEEDED TO MAKE
SOME KIND OF TRANSITION.
IT BECAME WHEN I HAD TO COVER
MASS SHOOTINGS AND GO LIVE ON
THE SCENE AGAIN AND CONTINUE TO
RELIVE WHAT HAPPENED TO ALLISON
AND WHAT HAPPENED TO ADAM.
EVEN USING THE SAME LIVE TRUCK
THEY WERE USING THAT DAY.
IT WAS JUST -- IT WAS TOO
PAINFUL FOR ME TO STAY AT THE
STATION.
STATION. BUT SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA IS HOME
FOR ME.
FOR ME. THAT’S WHERE SO MANY PEOPLE GAVE
ME LOVE AND SUPPORT.
I DIDN’T WANT TO LEAVE THAT
AREA.
AREA. WHAT COULD I DO THAT WOULD KEEP
ME IN THE COMMUNITY AND TRY AND
SERVE.
SERVE. GOING INTO POLITICS, AS IRONIC
AS THAT MAY SEEM, HAS TURNED OUT
TO BE A GREAT PROGRESSION.
>> IT’S IRONIC BUT IT’S PUBLIC
SERVICE.
SERVICE. ALL THAT’S GOOD IN OUR COUNTRY.
AND I LOVE THAT THROUGH YOUR
PAIN YOU FOUND A PURPOSE.
TELL ME HOW YOU DID THAT.
WHERE DID YOU FIND YOUR
STRENGTH?
STRENGTH? >> I FOUND STRENGTH FROM
ALLISON.
ALLISON. I’M TRYING TO PRESERVE HER
LEGACY, FOR HER PARENTS AND MY
PARENTS AND FOR THE COMMUNITY.
THAT’S WHAT THIS DOCUMENTARY,
"VIRGINIA 12th" IS ALL ABOUT,
AND WHY THEY WANTED TO BRING IT
TO COMPLETION AND HAVE AVAILABLE
FOR EVERYBODY TO SEE.
THIS ISN’T JUST ME.
IT’S ABOUT THE HUNDREDS OF
COLLEGE STUDENTS WHO KNOCKED ON
DOORS AND MADE PHONE CALLS.
ALL OF THE SENIOR CITIZENS WHO
KNOCKED ON DOORS AND MADE PHONE
CALLS.
CALLS. WHO HOSTED POT LUCKS AND BROUGHT
IN FOOD FOR THE CAMPAIGN STAFF.
I’M A VESSEL.
IT’S A STORY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY
OF SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA AND HOW
THEY RALLIED AROUND A COMMON
CAUSE.
CAUSE. >> YOU WERE SWORN IN IS JANUARY.
HAS IT BEEN ALL THAT YOU THOUGHT
IT WOULD BE?
>> FOR ALL IT ENTAILS.
>> IT HAS?
>> POLITICS AND BROADCASTING ARE
KIND OF THE SAME.
>> HOW SO?
>> YOU HAVE SOME EGOS INVOLVED,
MINE INCLUDED.
MINE INCLUDED. I GO FROM TALKING ABOUT THE
PROBLEMS IN OUR COMMUNITIES TO
BEING ABLE TO COME UP WITH THE
SOLUTIONS.
SOLUTIONS. WE’RE WORKING ON THE SAFE
VIRGINIA INITIATIVE, COMING UP
WITH A PROPOSAL TO REDUCE GUN
VIOLENCE IN VIRGINIA.
MORE PEOPLE DIE FROM GUN-RELATED
DEATHS THAN CAR CRASHES IN THE
COMMONWEALTH NOW.
COMMONWEALTH NOW. I’M ON THE EDUCATION COMMITTEE
NOW.
NOW. >> THANK YOU FOR THAT.
>> REPRESENT MORE COLLEGE
STUDENTS THAN ANYBODY ELSE IN
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY AND HAVE
TEACHERS IN MY DISTRICT, TOO.
IT’S A PRIVILEGE AND AN HONOR TO
BE ABLE TO START COMING UP WITH
POLICY ANSWERS.
POLICY ANSWERS. >> YOU WERE THE UNDERDOG.
SOME PEOPLE DOUBTED YOU.
BUT NOW, YOU HAVE THIS
DOCUMENTARY THAT SHOWS YOUR
PROGRESSION, SHOWS YOUR RACE.
WHAT WAS IT LIKE TO WATCH IT
BACK?
BACK? >> IT’S WONDERFUL.
IT REALLY IS A TESTAMENT.
IT’S A TRIBUTE.
IT’S A LOVE STORY.
IT’S A LOVE STORY OF ALISON AND
ME.
ME. IT’S A LOVE STORY OF ME WITH THE
COMMUNITY.
COMMUNITY. AND IT’S A LOVE STORY OF PEOPLE
GETTING INVOLVED AND ENGAGED
WITH OTHER PEOPLE IN THEIR AREA,
AROUND CIVICS AND AROUND
POLITICS.
POLITICS. IT DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE THE
NASTINESS AND THE VITRIOL THAT
WE SEE EVERY DAY.
>> WE SHOULD NOTE HERE.
YOU’RE WITH US THIS MORNING.
BUT THIS ISN’T YOUR DEBUT ON THE
"TODAY" SHOW.
"TODAY" SHOW. WE HAVE GREAT FRIENDS IN
ARCHIVES AND THEY MANAGED TO
PULL UP THIS DOOZY.
YOU REMEMBER THIS?
>> OH, MY GOODNESS.
WE CAN’T IDENTIFY WHICH ONE
CHRIS HURST IS.
>> I’M RIGHT IN THE BACK.
>> THERE YOU ARE.
WITH THE GLASSES?
>> THE MOUTH OPEN AND THE
GLASSES.
GLASSES. THAT WAS THE "TODAY" SHOW AROUND
15 YEARS AGO, 2000, 2001, RIGHT
OUTSIDE 30 ROCK.
>> PHILADELPHIA BOYS CHOIR?
>> THAT’S RIGHT, CRAIG.
I WAS IN THAT UNTIL MY VOICE
DROPPED.
DROPPED. THEN, THEY KICK YOU OUT.
>> CAN YOU STILL SING.
>> I’M GLAD YOU’RE ABLE TO FIND
THAT.
THAT. >> ARE YOU STILL A SINGER?
>> NOT LIKE MICHAEL BUBLE.
>> WANT TO SING US TO BREAK?
>> YEAH, SING US.
>> CHRIS, YOU’RE AN INSPIRATION.
THANK YOU.