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Virginia shooting: US TV station mourns murdered journalists Virginia shooting: Alison Parker's father in gun reform appeal
(about 7 hours later)
Staff at a US TV station in Virginia have held a minute's silence in memory of the two journalists shot dead by a disgruntled ex-colleague live on air. The father of Alison Parker, one of two journalists killed live on air, has appealed to US President Barack Obama to push through tougher gun laws.
"We will, over time, heal from this," WDBJ7 anchor Kim McBroom told viewers, holding hands with two colleagues. "You need to do this... I will help you do this and the press is with you on this because they just lost one of their own," Andy Parker told the BBC.
Vester Flanagan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound hours after he shot dead reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward on Wednesday. Staff at WDBJ TV in Virginia have been mourning the loss of his daughter, a reporter, and cameraman Adam Ward.
The attack has prompted renewed calls for stricter gun control laws. They were shot dead live on air by a disgruntled ex-colleague on Wednesday.
Memos from the station reveal Flanagan, who used the on-air name of Bryce Williams, had been ordered by the station's bosses to seek medical help before he was fired in February 2013. The attack has reignited the debate about gun control laws in the US, with Mr Obama calling for stricter background checks for gun buyers in the wake of the attack.
He filmed the attack and posted it on social media. In a 23-page fax he sent to ABC News, he described himself as a "human powder keg". Speaking to the BBC a day after the shooting, Ms Parker's father, Andy, acknowledged it would be an uphill battle to change the law, but said the president could take on the challenge.
Colleagues at WDBJ7 in Roanoke, Virginia, held a moment of silence at 06:45 (10:45 GMT) on Thursday - 24 hours on from the exact moment the reporter and cameraman were shot dead as they broadcast live from a shopping centre in Moneta. "You did it with healthcare reform which nobody said you could do. You did it with an Iran deal that everybody said you couldn't do. These are people's lives right here in the country," he said.
"Joining hands here on the desk," said Ms McBroom. "It's the only way to do it." But Republican presidential hopefuls Jim Gilmore and Ben Carson have warned against any rush to introduce tougher gun controls.
'We will heal'
WDBJ Roanoke news director Kelly Zuber said in a news conference on Thursday that none of her news teams had been doing live shots for the last two days "out of an abundance of caution".
She said the gunman, Vester Flanagan, may have discovered the location of the news crew after watching them in an earlier TV appearance at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta on Wednesday, and had enough time to drive to the area before their second live appearance.
The station's general manager, Jeff Marks, also said Flanagan had vowed to make "a stink" soon after he was fired from the station two years ago.
Earlier on Thursday, the station held a minute's silence on air in memory of the two slain journalists. "We will, over time, heal from this," WDBJ7 anchor Kim McBroom told viewers, holding hands with two colleagues.
Outside the channel's headquarters in Roanoke, bunches of flowers and black ribbons have been placed in memory of the two slain journalists.Outside the channel's headquarters in Roanoke, bunches of flowers and black ribbons have been placed in memory of the two slain journalists.
At the scene - Tara McKelvey, BBC News, RoanokeAt the scene - Tara McKelvey, BBC News, Roanoke
About 30 journalists have gathered in the parking lot near WDBJ. They're standing near a heap of flowers and gifts people have left under a tree.About 30 journalists have gathered in the parking lot near WDBJ. They're standing near a heap of flowers and gifts people have left under a tree.
Someone has placed a camcorder on the wood chips under the tree. The camera is decorated with Mardi Gras beads, and it has a cloth to wipe the lens.Someone has placed a camcorder on the wood chips under the tree. The camera is decorated with Mardi Gras beads, and it has a cloth to wipe the lens.
Someone else has folded a sweatshirt neatly and left it under the tree: the sweatshirt says Virginia Tech, the site of a mass shooting in 2007 and also the alma mater of Adam Ward.Someone else has folded a sweatshirt neatly and left it under the tree: the sweatshirt says Virginia Tech, the site of a mass shooting in 2007 and also the alma mater of Adam Ward.
The place smells like vanilla from scented candles, and it's cool here in the morning air. Some of the candles have burned all night.The place smells like vanilla from scented candles, and it's cool here in the morning air. Some of the candles have burned all night.
Internal memos from Dan Dennison, then news chief of WDBJ, show concerns about Vester Flanagan's "aggressive" behaviour towards colleagues, which he said made them feel "threatened and uncomfortable". Vester Flanagan, who posted online a video he had filmed of the attack, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound later on Wednesday.
In July 2012, Flanagan was instructed to contact a health service for employees or face being sacked. Memos from the station reveal Flanagan, who used the on-air name of Bryce Williams, had been ordered by the station's bosses to seek medical help and expressed "aggressive" behaviour toward colleagues.
Mr Dennison said on Wednesday Flanagan had complained of racial discrimination but "all these allegations were deemed to be unfounded". WDBJ's former news chief Dan Dennison said on Wednesday Flanagan had complained of racial discrimination but "all these allegations were deemed to be unfounded".
Flanagan had to be escorted from the building by police when he was fired "because he was not going to leave willingly", he added.Flanagan had to be escorted from the building by police when he was fired "because he was not going to leave willingly", he added.
In the fax to ABC News sent by Flanagan under his professional name, he said his anger had been "building steadily" and a recent attack on black church-goers in Charleston, South Carolina, had driven him to "tipping point". In a 23-page fax sent to ABC News, Flanagan said his anger had been "building steadily" and a recent attack on black church-goers in Charleston, South Carolina, had driven him to "tipping point".
But he also praised the gunmen behind mass shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech University in 2007.But he also praised the gunmen behind mass shootings at Columbine High School in 1999 and Virginia Tech University in 2007.
Late on Wednesday, a representative for Flanagan's family issued a statement expressing their "deepest condolences to the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward".
Alison Parker's father said his family had lost their "bright, shining light".
Alison ParkerAlison Parker
Adam WardAdam Ward
Who were the two journalists?Who were the two journalists?
Ms Parker was conducting a live interview with a guest on tourism for the breakfast show, filmed by Mr Ward, when suddenly shots rang out, and viewers saw the camera fall to the ground.Ms Parker was conducting a live interview with a guest on tourism for the breakfast show, filmed by Mr Ward, when suddenly shots rang out, and viewers saw the camera fall to the ground.
Screams could be heard and the footage captured a brief glimpse of the gunman. Flanagan later posted a video online he had filmed himself of the shooting at close range, which was subsequently removed by Twitter and Facebook. He killed himself after a police chase.Screams could be heard and the footage captured a brief glimpse of the gunman. Flanagan later posted a video online he had filmed himself of the shooting at close range, which was subsequently removed by Twitter and Facebook. He killed himself after a police chase.
The interviewee, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, is in a stable condition in hospital following surgery. The interview subject, Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, is in a stable condition in hospital following surgery.
President Barack Obama repeated his call for tougher gun laws after the attack, but Republican presidential hopefuls Jim Gilmore and Ben Carson have warned against any rush to introduce tougher gun controls.
Virginia TV shootingVirginia TV shooting