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| Virginia TV shooter Vester Lee Flanagan was a 'disturbed' and 'unhappy man' | Virginia TV shooter Vester Lee Flanagan was a 'disturbed' and 'unhappy man' |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Vester Lee Flanagan was a popular teenager, a model for Macy’s department store as a young man, and appeared to be a successful reporter at local television news stations in California and across the American south. | Vester Lee Flanagan was a popular teenager, a model for Macy’s department store as a young man, and appeared to be a successful reporter at local television news stations in California and across the American south. |
| But away from the studio lights, his journalism career was troubled, marked by office disputes and legal complaints he filed that alleged racism at newsrooms in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2000 and in Virginia last year. | But away from the studio lights, his journalism career was troubled, marked by office disputes and legal complaints he filed that alleged racism at newsrooms in Tallahassee, Florida, in 2000 and in Virginia last year. |
| Related: Virginia shooting: police say suspected gunman is dead - live updates | Related: Virginia shooting: police say suspected gunman is dead - live updates |
| According to police, on Wednesday, Flanagan, 41, carried out a deadly attack on two television journalists with WDBJ7, a CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia, where he once worked. Flanagan killed Alison Parker, a 24-year-old morning news reporter, and Adam Ward, 27, a cameraman and photographer, police said. He also injured the woman they were interviewing, Vicki Gardner. | According to police, on Wednesday, Flanagan, 41, carried out a deadly attack on two television journalists with WDBJ7, a CBS affiliate in Roanoke, Virginia, where he once worked. Flanagan killed Alison Parker, a 24-year-old morning news reporter, and Adam Ward, 27, a cameraman and photographer, police said. He also injured the woman they were interviewing, Vicki Gardner. |
| Officials said on Wednesday that ABC News had received a document, which ABC reported was a 23-page fax from someone purporting to be Bryce Williams, Flanagan’s onscreen pseudonym, about two hours after the attack. | Officials said on Wednesday that ABC News had received a document, which ABC reported was a 23-page fax from someone purporting to be Bryce Williams, Flanagan’s onscreen pseudonym, about two hours after the attack. |
| The document claimed the attack was intended as revenge for the massacre of nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June. | The document claimed the attack was intended as revenge for the massacre of nine African Americans in a church in Charleston, South Carolina, in June. |
| “What sent me over the top was the church shooting,” he reportedly wrote, adding that he had paid a deposit for a gun two days after the church shootings. | “What sent me over the top was the church shooting,” he reportedly wrote, adding that he had paid a deposit for a gun two days after the church shootings. |
| As their once shared workplace grieves for Parker and Ward, a preliminary portrait has emerged of an easily agitated employee who accused co-workers in at least two newsrooms of making racist comments. Flanagan’s most recent complaints, filed against reporters at WDBJ, were dismissed by the station manager on Wednesday as “fabricated”. | As their once shared workplace grieves for Parker and Ward, a preliminary portrait has emerged of an easily agitated employee who accused co-workers in at least two newsrooms of making racist comments. Flanagan’s most recent complaints, filed against reporters at WDBJ, were dismissed by the station manager on Wednesday as “fabricated”. |
| A model, and a string of allegations | A model, and a string of allegations |
| Flanagan grew up in Oakland, California. During his high school years and into his early 20s he worked as a print and catwalk model, according to his social media profiles. On Twitter he posted several photos from his modeling days, including one of him at the age of 14 in a Macy’s Fashion show. | Flanagan grew up in Oakland, California. During his high school years and into his early 20s he worked as a print and catwalk model, according to his social media profiles. On Twitter he posted several photos from his modeling days, including one of him at the age of 14 in a Macy’s Fashion show. |
| He attended Skyline high school in Oakland, where he was voted homecoming prince during his junior year, according to his social media profiles. He then went on to study radio and television at San Francisco State University. He graduated in 1995, the university confirmed. | |
| In 2000 Flanagan sued WTWC, the NBC affiliate in Tallahassee, Florida, alleging he was fired after objecting to racism he encountered once he joined the station the year before. He sought more than $75,000 in damages. | In 2000 Flanagan sued WTWC, the NBC affiliate in Tallahassee, Florida, alleging he was fired after objecting to racism he encountered once he joined the station the year before. He sought more than $75,000 in damages. |
| The lawsuit made several claims, including that in the summer of 1999 he had been called a “monkey” by a producer and learned other black employees had been called the same. | The lawsuit made several claims, including that in the summer of 1999 he had been called a “monkey” by a producer and learned other black employees had been called the same. |
| Flanagan alleged that later that year a white employee told him it “busted her butt that blacks did not take advantage of the free money” available in scholarships to African Americans attending college. | Flanagan alleged that later that year a white employee told him it “busted her butt that blacks did not take advantage of the free money” available in scholarships to African Americans attending college. |
| He further alleged that a black criminal suspect being reported on by the station was referred to as “just another thug” and that a black tape operator was told to “stop talking ebonics”. | He further alleged that a black criminal suspect being reported on by the station was referred to as “just another thug” and that a black tape operator was told to “stop talking ebonics”. |
| The station denied all of Flanagan’s allegations. The lawsuit reached federal court in Florida. According to public records, it was settled out of court in 2001. | The station denied all of Flanagan’s allegations. The lawsuit reached federal court in Florida. According to public records, it was settled out of court in 2001. |
| After being dismissed from the Florida station, Flanagan made a career change, working as a customer service representative in the fraud investigations unit at Bank of America. He then took a job as a customer service representative at Pacific Gas and Electric Company before returning to television news, according to his LinkedIn Profile. | |
| He joined a newsroom in North Carolina, and stayed for just two years before again leaving journalism. He moved back to California to be the communications director at the Sacramento-based company NDG Interactive, where he worked for more than seven years, according to LinkedIn. | |
| Flanagan, who reported as Bryce Williams, joined WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia as a multimedia journalist and general assignment reporter in March 2012. In a statement at the time, Daniel Dennison, the station’s news director, hailed him as a veteran reporter “with an enormous scope of experience” and described his recruitment as “a testament to the quality and professionalism” of their team. | Flanagan, who reported as Bryce Williams, joined WDBJ in Roanoke, Virginia as a multimedia journalist and general assignment reporter in March 2012. In a statement at the time, Daniel Dennison, the station’s news director, hailed him as a veteran reporter “with an enormous scope of experience” and described his recruitment as “a testament to the quality and professionalism” of their team. |
| In Virginia, ‘an unhappy man’ | In Virginia, ‘an unhappy man’ |
| Yet Flanagan had a troubled time with WDBJ and ultimately lasted less than a year at the Virginia station. | Yet Flanagan had a troubled time with WDBJ and ultimately lasted less than a year at the Virginia station. |
| Related: WDBJ: Virginia TV station at center of fatal shooting is small but crucial | Related: WDBJ: Virginia TV station at center of fatal shooting is small but crucial |
| WDBJ7 station manager Jeffrey Marks described Flanagan as “an unhappy man” who had a reputation as someone who was “difficult to work with” and was quick to “take offense”. | WDBJ7 station manager Jeffrey Marks described Flanagan as “an unhappy man” who had a reputation as someone who was “difficult to work with” and was quick to “take offense”. |
| “We employed him as a reporter, and he had some talent in that respect and some experience, although he’d been out of the business for a while,” Marks said. | “We employed him as a reporter, and he had some talent in that respect and some experience, although he’d been out of the business for a while,” Marks said. |
| Flanagan was fired in 2013. The following March, he went to the city courts and sued the station, seeking money, according to public records. The case was later dismissed. | Flanagan was fired in 2013. The following March, he went to the city courts and sued the station, seeking money, according to public records. The case was later dismissed. |
| “Eventually, after many incidents of his anger coming to the fore, we dismissed him,” Marks said. “And he did not take that well. We had to call the police to escort him from the building.” | “Eventually, after many incidents of his anger coming to the fore, we dismissed him,” Marks said. “And he did not take that well. We had to call the police to escort him from the building.” |
| The Roanoke police department would not confirm that Flanagan had been escorted from the newsroom. | The Roanoke police department would not confirm that Flanagan had been escorted from the newsroom. |
| Flanagan suggested on Twitter that he had also filed a complaint against the television station with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). On Twitter he alleged that Parker specifically had made “racist comments”. | Flanagan suggested on Twitter that he had also filed a complaint against the television station with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). On Twitter he alleged that Parker specifically had made “racist comments”. |
| “EEOC report filed,” Flanagan wrote. “They hired her after that???” In a separate tweet, he added: “Adam went to [human resources] after working with me one time!!!” | “EEOC report filed,” Flanagan wrote. “They hired her after that???” In a separate tweet, he added: “Adam went to [human resources] after working with me one time!!!” |
| Marks said the station investigated the complaint but none of the offenses “could be corroborated”. He concluded that they were “fabricated”. | Marks said the station investigated the complaint but none of the offenses “could be corroborated”. He concluded that they were “fabricated”. |
| Virginia officials on Wednesday said: “It appears that things had spiraled out of control.” | Virginia officials on Wednesday said: “It appears that things had spiraled out of control.” |
| Asked to confirm Flanagan’s claim, a spokeswoman for the EEOC said: “With respect to the individual you mention, we cannot confirm that a complaint has been filed with the EEOC because of Title 7 confidentiality provisions. The only time we can speak publicly about a case is when, as a last resort, EEOC files a lawsuit against an employer.” | Asked to confirm Flanagan’s claim, a spokeswoman for the EEOC said: “With respect to the individual you mention, we cannot confirm that a complaint has been filed with the EEOC because of Title 7 confidentiality provisions. The only time we can speak publicly about a case is when, as a last resort, EEOC files a lawsuit against an employer.” |
| CNN reported on Wednesday that, despite his latest career setback, Flanagan had begun looking for more work in television news and had applied for jobs with the national cable network. | CNN reported on Wednesday that, despite his latest career setback, Flanagan had begun looking for more work in television news and had applied for jobs with the national cable network. |
| Public records indicate Flanagan did not have a criminal record. In 2004, he was charged with driving with an altered or revoked driver’s licence and having no registration on his vehicle in Pitt County, North Carolina, according to court records. | Public records indicate Flanagan did not have a criminal record. In 2004, he was charged with driving with an altered or revoked driver’s licence and having no registration on his vehicle in Pitt County, North Carolina, according to court records. |
| A clerk at the Pitt County district court said on Wednesday the case was voluntarily dismissed by the district attorney’s office in June 2004. “Typically if the person complies by getting those things in order, the DA will dismiss,” said the clerk. | A clerk at the Pitt County district court said on Wednesday the case was voluntarily dismissed by the district attorney’s office in June 2004. “Typically if the person complies by getting those things in order, the DA will dismiss,” said the clerk. |
| On a Facebook page that appears to have been run by the gunman under the pseudonym Bryce Williams, Flanagan appears to have uploaded several silent video recordings of stories on which he worked, including one that shows him in a store holding a weapon. | On a Facebook page that appears to have been run by the gunman under the pseudonym Bryce Williams, Flanagan appears to have uploaded several silent video recordings of stories on which he worked, including one that shows him in a store holding a weapon. |
| On Wednesday morning, Flanagan is alleged to have arrived at Bridgewater Plaza, a shopping and entertainment center near Smith Mountain Lake, where Parker and Ward were interviewing Gardner. | On Wednesday morning, Flanagan is alleged to have arrived at Bridgewater Plaza, a shopping and entertainment center near Smith Mountain Lake, where Parker and Ward were interviewing Gardner. |
| Graphic videos posted to a Twitter account purporting to be run by the gunman show the approach toward Parker from the gunman’s point of view. The reporter is standing on a deck interviewing Vicki Gardner. Ward is filming. | Graphic videos posted to a Twitter account purporting to be run by the gunman show the approach toward Parker from the gunman’s point of view. The reporter is standing on a deck interviewing Vicki Gardner. Ward is filming. |
| The three continue reporting live and do not appear to notice the approaching person. The person filming then angles alongside the cameraman and aims a handgun directly at Parker. | The three continue reporting live and do not appear to notice the approaching person. The person filming then angles alongside the cameraman and aims a handgun directly at Parker. |
| A second video shows the gunman shooting at Parker as she runs away from the shots. | A second video shows the gunman shooting at Parker as she runs away from the shots. |
| The video then cuts. The Twitter account has now been suspended. | The video then cuts. The Twitter account has now been suspended. |
| An image taken by Ward, the cameraman, appears to show the shooter just before Ward’s death. | An image taken by Ward, the cameraman, appears to show the shooter just before Ward’s death. |
| The gunman reportedly fled the scene, prompting a manhunt. Virginia state police said they spotted the suspect’s car around 11.30am on Interstate 66, describing the confrontation with the suspect in a post on Facebook. | The gunman reportedly fled the scene, prompting a manhunt. Virginia state police said they spotted the suspect’s car around 11.30am on Interstate 66, describing the confrontation with the suspect in a post on Facebook. |
| Authorities tried to pull over the car, but the driver refused to stop. Moments later, the suspect’s car ran off the road and crashed. When troopers approached the car they found a man believed to be the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound. | Authorities tried to pull over the car, but the driver refused to stop. Moments later, the suspect’s car ran off the road and crashed. When troopers approached the car they found a man believed to be the suspect suffering from a gunshot wound. |
| Flanagan was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died on Wednesday, according to authorities. | Flanagan was transported to a nearby hospital, where he died on Wednesday, according to authorities. |
| “This gentleman was disturbed at some way at the way things had transpired in his life,” Franklin County sheriff Bill Overton said at a news conference. | “This gentleman was disturbed at some way at the way things had transpired in his life,” Franklin County sheriff Bill Overton said at a news conference. |
| Additional reporting: Oliver Laughland in New York | Additional reporting: Oliver Laughland in New York |