A woman TV journalist and a cameraman were shot dead on live television, when an ex-employee of the TV channel opened fire at them before succumbing to injuries from a self-inflicted gunshot wound in the United States.

The incident occurred at a shopping mall at Moneta in state of Virginia yesterday. Forty-one year old gunman Vester Lee Flanagan, an ex-employee of WDBJ7 TV known professionally as Bryce Williams killed TV reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

After the shooting, Williams fled but was later found by police in his car with gunshot wound. He later died at a hospital.

Meanwhile, the White House has issued a rapid call for Congress to pass gun control laws after the incident.

Spokesman Josh Earnest said this is another example of gun violence that is becoming all too common in communities large and small across the United States.

He said, Congress could take those steps in a way that would not infringe on the constitutional rights of law abiding Americans.

Earlier, President Barack Obama said that failure to tighten gun legislation was the greatest source of frustration during his time in the office.

He described the United States as one advanced nation on Earth without sufficient common-sense and gun-safety laws.