UPDATE:
The shooter is a disgruntled employee from the station named Bryce Williams -- aka Vester Flanagan -- sued his former bosses at a TV station in Florida back in 2000 ... claiming his bosses verbally abused him because of his race, and even called him a "monkey."
After Williams shot and killed a Virginia reporter and photographer -- he then turned a gun on himself and ultimately dying. Not before he live streamed the killing of his co-workers. (Warning Graphic - click here)
But why did this all happen?
Flanagan accused one of the victims of racism. In his lawsuit, filed against WTWC-TV in Florida, Vester claimed he was constantly targeted because of his race.
Here are his allegations:
-- Claims producer called him a "monkey"
-- Claims an "official" joked about a black murder suspect with gold and green grillz, saying he had "collared greens" stuck in his teeth
-- Claims he heard a manager tell another black employee to "stop talking ebonics."
Vester claims he filed a complaint with the powers that be -- and was fired because he blew the whistle.
WTWC adamantly DENIED race had anything to do with his termination -- claiming he was a crappy employee who often used profanity in the workplace.
Ultimately, the case was settled out of court in 2001.
Fast forward to today on the morning of the killings, a fax was in the machine (time stamped 8:26 a.m.) almost two hours after the shooting. A little after 10 a.m., he called again, and introduced himself as Bryce, but also said his legal name was Vester Lee Flanagan, and that he shot two people this morning. While on the phone, he said authorities are “after me,” and “all over the place.” He hung up. ABC News contacted the authorities immediately and provided them with the fax.
In the 23-page document faxed to ABC News, the writer says “MY NAME IS BRYCE WILLIAMS” and his legal name is Vester Lee Flanagan II.” He writes what triggered today’s carnage was his reaction to the racism of the 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…”
“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them."
It is unclear whose initials he is referring to. He continues,
“As for Dylann Roof? You (deleted)! You want a race war (deleted)? BRING IT THEN YOU WHITE …(deleted)!!!” He said Jehovah spoke to him, telling him to act.
Later in the manifesto, the writer quotes the Virginia Tech mass killer, Seung Hui Cho, calls him “his boy,” and expresses admiration for the Columbine High School killers. “Also, I was influenced by Seung–Hui Cho. That’s my boy right there. He got NEARLY double the amount that Eric Harris and Dylann Klebold got…just sayin.'"
In an often rambling letter to the authorities, and family and friends, he writes of a long list of grievances. In one part of the document, Williams calls it a “Suicide Note for Friends and Family."
- He says has suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work
- He says he has been attacked by black men and white females
- He talks about how he was attacked for being a gay, black man
“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....”
“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!!!!”
ORIGINAL REPORT:
According to Live Leaks, two journalists have been shot dead during a live TV report in the US state of Virginia, their employer confirms.
WDBJ7 TV reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were killed during an interview in Moneta, Bedford County, the TV station said.
During the live broadcast, shots could be heard, sending the reporter and the person she was interviewing screaming.
The TV station's general manager, Jeff Marks, said that Parker and Ward died shortly after 6:45 a.m., when the shots rang out.
"We heard screaming and then we heard nothing,"
Marks said.
The gunman escaped the scene and police have the surrounding area -- which includes multiple schools -- on lock down. As Adam went down ... his camera captured an image of the suspect.
Police say they are investigating the incident and still searching for the suspect.
Vicki Gardner, the woman Alison was interviewing, was shot in the back. She's in surgery right now.
Alison was engaged to Chris Hurst, a co-anchor at the station -- and Adam was engaged to a producer named Melissa Ott. She was actually producing the newscast at the time of the shooting, and it was her last day at the station.
A few hours after the shooting, Hurst tweeted about his relationship with Alison.
Watch the video of the incident below. Warning this could be too graphic.
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