New York Daily News Defends Publishing Extremely Graphic Photos of the Moment WDBJ Reporter Was Murdered

The New York Daily News is defending its decision to publish graphic front-page photos by the killer showing the moment WDBJ reporter Alison Parker was gunned down on live TV.

Both the New York Daily News and the New York Post published still images from the video filmed by Vester Flanagan as he opened fire on Parker and TV cameraman Adam Ward while they conducted a live interview.

A spokeswoman for the Daily News told the New York Observer that the cover was “to convey the true scale of what happened in Roanoke ... at a time when it is so easy for the public to become inured to such senseless violence.”

The newspaper published three different still images from the video posted by the gunman across social media just hours after the shooting happened Wednesday morning.

The first photo shows the shooter holding out the gun as Parker was conducting her interview, apparently unaware of his presence. The second shows the blast as he pulled the trigger, and the third shows Parker reacting in horror.

The New York Post published one full photo showing the shooter holding out his gun moments before opening fire.

Both newspapers tweeted out images of their covers, which were met with extreme backlash.

The images are below; be advised that they may be disturbing.

An early look at tomorrow’s front page... EXECUTED ON LIVE TV: http://t.co/8X8tEKXIhJ pic.twitter.com/UOsjmUdBJw

— New York Daily News (@NYDailyNews) August 27, 2015

Today's cover: The #WDBJ shooter terrified co-workers at 2 stations with "bizarre behavior" http://t.co/br7AUaP0Bw pic.twitter.com/fUUC5RJDaJ

— New York Post (@nypost) August 27, 2015

By contrast, the Richmond Times-Dispatch newspaper published a photo of a grinning Parker and Ward.

.@RTDNEWS front page for Thursday, Aug. 27: pic.twitter.com/SkeeNZCTe3

— Matt Pallister (@thepallister) August 27, 2015

The New York Daily News and New York Post did not immediately respond to requests for comment from TheBlaze.

(H/T: Mediaite)

—

Follow Jon Street (@JonStreet) on Twitter