Vester Lee Flanagan - aka Bryce Williams - the gunman who killed two journalists during a live broadcast in Virginia has attempted suicide and is "in a very critical condition", media report.
He was dismissed in 2013, after gaining a reputation for being "difficult to work with," according to the station's management.
Video Resume here...
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In a stunning update, the gunman - has tweeted the moment he killed the two news people... (video has been removed from his twitter and facebook account which are now suspended)
The reporter knew nothing until the first shot went off!!
Suspect aims gun at Alison Parker as she conducts interview; she doesn’t even notice. Horrifying. pic.twitter.com/eWTIpLjsoM
— reported.ly (@reportedly)
Twitter
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Update: Shooter believed to be “disgruntled employee”
BREAKING: @GovernorVA says shooter believed to be "disgruntled employee" of @WDBJ7. Troopers in pursuit now. pic.twitter.com/U92mW0bLdT
— WTOP (@WTOP)
As The Daily Beast reports,
In the tweets, Flanagan hinted at possible motives for the shooting. He tweeted about filing an Equal Employment Opportunity Commission complaint and alleged that the reporter had made racist comments. “They hired her after that???” he tweeted. The slain producer, he claimed, complained to HR about him after working together one time. His final text tweet boasted about filming the attack.
ABC News said it recieved a 23-page fax from Flanagan and turned it over to authorities.
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While Americans are becoming numb to inner city violence, shooting sprees, and lone gunmen at military installations, the following stunning clip - from live TV at the Bridgewater Plaza in Bedford County, Virginia - of a reporter and photographer being shot and killed is likely to raise the public's awareness of the underlying chaos occurring under the surface in America every day...
A gunman has opened fire on a TV news crew conducting a live broadcast from Virginia shopping center on Wednesday. Police are reporting three victims, though their conditions are currently unknown. The shooter is still on the loose.
Video from the scene appears to show a crew from local TV outlet WDBJ7 being attacked in the middle of a live report at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia.
A reporter was interviewing a woman at the shopping center when the gunman walked into view, firing what sounded to be at least six shots.
The station has confirmed the incident involved one of its crews.
Police are looking for the shooter and hope to soon release a description of the individual to the public.
Nearby Bedford County schools are currently on lockdown as police search for the shooter, ABC 13 reported. The Virginia Department of Transportation has reported a high-priority situation, announcing the closure of Route 122 in the area.
Warning - Disturbing images:
Unbelievable shooting on live TV in the Roanoke area this morning. Prayers to my friends at WDBJ7. pic.twitter.com/q8ob9mI8VL
— Jacob Wycoff (@4cast4you)
Twitter
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We are trying to figure out what just happened -- thank you all for your concern and kind words.
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7)
Update: Allison Parker and photographer Adam Ward have been killed in the shooting at Bridgewater Plaza at SML. pic.twitter.com/m4ElK04GLf
— Brent Watts (@wattsupbrent)
Twitter
