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Virginia shooter: 'My hollow point bullets have the victims' initials on them'

UPDATE: The family of the alleged shooter sent a note of condolence via email to the WDBJ-TV news team late Wednesday afternoon to express sorrow for the victims — and to make a plea for privacy.

"It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we express our deepest condolenses [sic] to the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward," the note read.

"We are also praying for the recovery of Vicki Gardner. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with the victims' families and the WBDJ7 NEWS family. Words cannot express the hurt that we feel for the victtims [sic]. Our family is asking that the media respect our privacy. Sincerely, The Family of Vester Flanagan."

His last should have been a warning for this employers.

Vester Flanagan threw a cross at his bosses and told them 'you're going to need this'.

A former co-worker of the man who shot and killed a TV reporter and cameraman during a live news broadcast says that Vester Flanagan was "off-kilter" and that he thought news anchoring was about "acting."

Kimberly Moore Wilmoth worked with Flanagan in 1999 when he was at a Tallahassee TV station. She said Wednesday that "he didn't laugh at our jokes or at himself when he would make a mistake."

Wilmoth describes Flanagan as a loner who didn't socialize with other reporters. She says he got mad when co-workers made light of on-air mistakes. She recounted one story in which he filmed an elderly man trapped inside a car during a flood even though the man was calling out for help.

She says: "Instead of helping the man, he used the man as a prop."

The former reporter sent a 23-page manifesto to media before the attack.

Ex-colleagues Alison Parker and Adam Ward of WDBJ, a local TV station in Virginia, were gunned down at about 6.45am Wednesday.

Some of his social media rants. Photo: Twitter
Some of his social media rants. Photo: Twitter

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



“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.

He was often accusing people of racial discrimnation. Photo: Twitter
He was often accusing people of racial discrimnation. Photo: Twitter

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

“As for Dylann Roof? You (deleted)! You want a race war (deleted)? BRING IT THEN YOU WHITE …(deleted)!!!”
He also mentioned the Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Cho and the Columbine shooters and expressed admiration for 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!!!!”

Flanagan, who lived in Roanoke, in the US state of Virginia, shot himself about five hours after the attack during a police chase.

He also posted video of the shootings and a series of rambling comments on Twitter and Facebook.

Governor Terry McAuliffe told media described Flanagan as “distraught” and a “disgruntled former employee”.

After the alleged shootings, Flanagan posted a video of the murders on his Facebook page, along with a series of comments on Twitter about the attack.

He had a career in journalism that spanned two decades but was fired from WDBJ two years ago. He also sued TV stations for racial discrimination.

Former co-workers and employees told CNN he was “difficult to work with” and constantly “looking for offense.”

Station manager Jeffrey Marks told CNN: He did make some accusations against people some time ago, you could never imagine that someone is going to come back and act on those issues.”

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