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Two journalists shot dead during live TV interview in Virginia

  • US Reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were shot dead by a former colleague.

  • Third victim Vicki Gardner recovering in hospital after emergency surgery.

  • The suspect filmed the incident and posted to social media. The videos have since been taken down.

  • The shooter sent a manifesto to media, claiming revenge for the Charleston shootings as the motive.

  • He has a reputation of being difficult to work with and has sued former employers for racial discrimination.

  • A police bomb squad has swept the suspect's residence.

  • President Obama told reporters the news "breaks his heart".

  • ATF confirms murder weapon was purchased legally.


Seconds before the shooting. Source: YouTube
Seconds before the shooting. Source: YouTube

A pair of television journalists at a CBS affiliate in Virginia were shot and killed during a live broadcast Wednesday morning by former colleague Vester Lee Flanagan II.

Authorities said the shooter, a disgruntled former employee at the station, shot himself after crashing his car on an interstate highway.


In a 23-page letter the shooter sent to ABC News in the US, which he called a “Suicide Note for Friends and Family”, Flanagan wrote he was discriminated against for being gay and African American.

Former reporter  Vester Lee Flanagan II gunned down a reporter and cameraman team. Photo: Supplied.
Former reporter Vester Lee Flanagan II gunned down a reporter and cameraman team. Photo: Supplied.

“Yes, it will sound like I am angry ... I am. And I have every right to be. But when I leave this Earth, the only emotion I want to feel is peace ...,” he wrote.

He also said his shooting was a reaction to the racially motivated Charleston church shooting.

“Why did I do it? I put down a deposit for a gun on 6/19/15. The Church shooting in Charleston happened on 6/17/15 …” he wrote.

“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them."

“The church shooting was the tipping point … but my anger has been building steadily ... I’ve been a human powder keg for a while … just waiting to go BOOM!!!!”


The suspected gunman, who went by the name Bryce Williams on air, died after being taken into custody with "life-threatening" injuries.

The gunman attacked a television crew during a live broadcast early Wednesday morning.
The gunman attacked a television crew during a live broadcast early Wednesday morning.
Vester Lee Flanagan II as a young adult. Photo: Supplied.
Vester Lee Flanagan II as a young adult. Photo: Supplied.

The victims, WDBJ reporter Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, her 27-year-old cameraman, died shortly after the shooting, which occurred at approximately 6:45 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia, near Smith Mountain Lake.

The third victim, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Chamber of Commerce, is recovering in Roanoke Memorial Hospital following emergency surgery.

Ms Parker and Mr Ward were interviewing Ms Gardner when Flanagan opened fire.

A spokesperson for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives confirmed the gun Flanagan used to kill his former colleagues was purchased legally.

Speaking with reporters from the White House on Wednesday, President Barack Obama said the news "breaks his heart".

"It breaks my heart every time you read or hear about these kinds of incidents.

"What we know is that the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism.

"(It is) one more argument for why we need to look at how we can reduce gun violence."

White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest spoke earlier of the president's frustration with having to address "another example of gun violence that is becoming all too common in communities large and small all across the United States” with a call for Congress to act.

"Obviously the thoughts and prayers of everybody here at the White House are with the families of those who were injured and killed," Earnest said.

"The precise details of threat incident continue to be under investigation.

"And while there is no piece of legislation that will end all violence, there are some common sense things that only Congress can do that we know will have a tangible impact on reducing gun violence in this country."

Ms Parker's family released a statement in which her father, Andy, said it was "unbearable" that his daughter was killed by "yet another crazy person with a gun".

"Barbara, Drew and I are numb, devastated, and I find my grief unbearable.

"Alison was our bright, shining light and it was cruelly extinguished by yet another crazy person with a gun.

The video Flanagan recorded when he shot his former colleagues.
The video Flanagan recorded when he shot his former colleagues.

"She excelled at everything she did and was loved by everyone she touched. She loved us dearly and we talked to her every single day.

"Not hearing her voice again crushes my soul."

He told The Washington Post that his wife first learned of the shooting in a text message from WDBJ-TV, the station for which his 24-year-old daughter Alison worked. He says they did not know her condition at first but feared the worst when they didn't hear from her.

Mr Parker says she would have called immediately to say she was OK. About an hour after the shooting, a senior manager at the station called the family to say Ms Parker had been killed.

Her family have started a memorial fund in her honour, with proceeds going to the media school at James Madison University from where she graduated.

"In answer to inquiries from family and friends as to how they could honor Alison, the Parker family thought of JMU,” the university's alumni association wrote on Facebook.

The gunman recorded the shooting and posted video of it on social media. Mr Parker says he refuses to watch it.

The horrific shooting captured on live TV. Source: YouTube
The horrific shooting captured on live TV. Source: YouTube

The chilling first-person video posted to a Twitter account belonging to Williams shows what appears to be him holding a gun behind Ms Parker and Mr Ward during their live shot, then firing three shots as Parker tries to flee.

"I filmed the shooting," Williams tweeted after alleging Ms Parker had made "racist comments" about him.

The Twitter account has since been suspended as has a Facebook account belonging to someone with that name.

Police at the scene of the shooting. Photo: Supplied.
Police at the scene of the shooting. Photo: Supplied.

Police trucks removed items from the Flanagan's home in Roanoke, only a few blocks from the WDBJ-TV studios.

Police confirmed Flanagan died at hospital of self-inflicted wounds.

A reporter knocked on the door Wednesday, hours after the shooting and after Flanagan died. No one answered. Several other neighbors also weren't home, and the parking lot was mostly empty.

The suspended account of Bryce Williams the alleged killer who tweeted the attacks. Photo: Supplied
The suspended account of Bryce Williams the alleged killer who tweeted the attacks. Photo: Supplied

KILLINGS ON LIVE TELEVISION

WDBJ anchor's reaction when she heard the gunshots and screams and saw the camera fall to the ground. Photo: Supplied
WDBJ anchor's reaction when she heard the gunshots and screams and saw the camera fall to the ground. Photo: Supplied

Screams were heard as the camera fell to the floor.

A moment later the broadcast cuts back to the newsroom and the shocked anchor Kimberly McBroom is says, “OK, I’m not sure what happened there.”

The shooting was caught on live TV as Ward was filming reporter Parker (left)
The shooting was caught on live TV as Ward was filming reporter Parker (left)

WDBJ General Manager Jeff Marks told CNN he was difficult to work with.

"Two years ago, we had to separate him from the company. We did understand that he was still living in the area," he said.

SUSPECT SHOT HIMSELF

Vester Lee Flanagan shot himself in the head after being chased by police on Interstate-66. Photo: Reuters
Vester Lee Flanagan shot himself in the head after being chased by police on Interstate-66. Photo: Reuters

Police tracked Flanagan's mobile phone to locate him.

Flanagan was spotted on Interstate-66 and was chased by police as his vehicle crashed.

The killer was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.

He was airlifted to hospital but was later pronounced dead.

The car of suspected gunman Vester L. Flanagan, also known as Bryce Williams, is seen off Highway I-66 in Fauquier County, Virginia. REUTERS/David Manning
The car of suspected gunman Vester L. Flanagan, also known as Bryce Williams, is seen off Highway I-66 in Fauquier County, Virginia. REUTERS/David Manning



THEY WERE SO LOVED

Alison Parker was the station's morning reporter and lived just an hour from where she was tragically killed. Photo: Supplied
Alison Parker was the station's morning reporter and lived just an hour from where she was tragically killed. Photo: Supplied

According to her bio at WDBJ7.com, Alison Parker was the station's morning reporter. She had spent much of her life outside Martinsville, about an hour from where she was tragically killed.

Prior to her time at WDBJ, Ms Parker worked near the Marine base Camp Lejeune for the Jacksonville, North Carolina bureau of WCTI.

She graduated from James Madison University just three years ago. While there, she interned at the local ABC/Fox affiliate and was news editor for her university's nationally recognized newspaper, The Breeze.

Alison Parker and Adam Ward (r) were shot dead during a live cross in Virginia.
Alison Parker and Adam Ward (r) were shot dead during a live cross in Virginia.

Photographer Adam Ward was a Virginia Tech graduate who attended high school in Salem, about an hour from the scene of the tragic murder.

A spokesman for the station said their colleague was the "go to guy" in the workplace.

“Adam was our go-to guy. He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked. He did live shots during our morning show for several years.”

The pair often worked together on WDBJ7 stories.

Mr Ward was engaged to Melissa Ott, a news producer who was working on the show that morning and watched from the control room as her fiance was killed.

It was her last day on the job. She was about to start a new job in North Carolina and Mr Ward planned to move with her. The crew had a party earlier that morning to celebrate her last day.

Ms Parker's fiance Chris Hurst, who also worked at WDBJ7 posted on Twitter his reaction to the news.

"We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb," he said in the post.

"We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married. We just celebrated her 24th birthday ... She was the most radiant woman I ever met."

Media workers around the world have taken to twitter to share their shock at the horrific act. The pair's employer shared touching tribute for their fallen co-workers.

In solidarity, journalists quickly shared their grief for their slain colleagues with the hashtag #WeStandWithWDBJ catching on fast.

Ms Parker and Mr Ward were honoured with a moment of silence before a baseball game between the Washington Nationals and the San Diego Padres at Nationals Park in Washington DC.

If you are concerned about the mental health of yourself or a loved one, seek support and information by calling Lifeline 13 11 14, Mensline 1300 789 978, or Kids Helpline 1800 551 800