Commerce, this wasnt a crime scene or a situation of high alert. A former reporter from the same tv station seemed to casually walk up and begin shooting. The tv crew camera caught this image of the shooter, now known to be 41yearold vestor flanagan. Tkvu has chosen not to air video from the attack or images recorded by flanagan who was also holding a camera when he shot and killed 24yearold Allison Parker and 27yearold photographer adam ward. The other woman being interviewed, vicky gardener was shot and in stable condition. Flanagan was known as Bryce Williams on air, fired more than 2 years ago from the tv station in virginia. Soon after the shooting, Police Believe flanagan switch cars at a Regional Airport and was spotted by state police. He eventually ran off the road on interstate 66, and shot himself. Flanagan died at a local hospital this afternoon. The Franklin County sheriff said they are investigating why and how flanagan targeted this particular cruise. That is a question
A gruesome ambush that unfolded around 6 45 a. M. This morning as wdbj, near the end of its morning newscast. The news crew was conducting an onair interview, something they do every morning, at a Shopping Center in moneta, outside of roanoke, when the gunman attacked, firing off, again, at least eight rounds that shooter was tracked to the north and was eventually found off of i66 in Fauquier County suffering from a gunshot wound. We have Live Team Coverage for you at both locations this evening. We begin with david culver and the latest from investigators in roanoke. David . Reporter jim behind me, you can see a very active scene several hours after that attack, as you mentioned, captured live on tv. This is the plaza, a scenic place that overlooked Smith Mountain lake. The sheriff, we just heard from him a short time ago, the sheriff in Franklin County, pointing out how close knit a community this s he recently done a similar live interview with the reporter Alison Parker and photog
After emergency surgery. The gunman a former employee of the same roanoke tv station where the victims worked drove off from the scene and posted video of himself on social media killing parker and ward. He also faxed a multi page manifesto explaining his motives to abc network news. After a chase he drove off the road, officers found him with a self inflicted gunshot wound. He died at a hospital. We have Team Coverage tonight. Chris oconnell is looking into what may have motivated the gunman but we begin tonight with dawn timmeney for an inn in depth look at a morning that horrified americans everywhere. Dawn . Reporter its really hard to wrap your head around this, iain. To journalists just doing their jobs smiling, neither having any idea of the horror that is about to unfold. It was 6 45 this morning. Reporter Alison Parker and her photographer adam ward of wdbjtv of roanoke, virginia, doing a live interview for their morning show. But today their story shattered by gunfire. As the
Roanoke area. Well have more on their lives in just a minute. State police say they were able to track the alleged shooter up i81 where it hits i 66 which is where a trooper started following him. Bruce leshan picks up the story from his live location which is just off i66 near front royal. Bruce . Reporter yeah, lesli, you know, it was just minutes after troopers started following the troubled reporter that he crashed just the other side of these trees here. All right, guys. Hes got something in his right hand and he reached for something. Reporter the troopers knew that Vester Flanagan was armed and dangerous. His picture from the shooting scene had been flashed around the world. Not yielding. Going to call it as a pursuit call. Copy in pursuit now, subject did not stop. Reporter the pursuit did not last long. 104, shots fired. Comb shots fired. Reporter within minimum copy shots fired. Reporter within minutes troopers heard a gunshot and a crash, although it is still not clear in wh
Vester flanagan fled the scene after the shooting, 6 45 a. M. At 11 00 a. M. Police found his mustang at the airport where he got into a rented car. A trooper spotted Vester Flanagan on i66. Despite speeding away he crashed minutes later, 190 miles from where he started. Police radio recordings captured what happened next. [ indiscernible ] reporter Vester Flanagan died at the hospital. He already posted his video of the shooting on social media. In a manifesto faxed to abc news Vester Flanagan said anger over the Charleston Church shootings drove him to kill his former colleagues and he said he was the target of Racial Discrimination and bullied at work but wdbj7 disputed the claims. He was looking out for people to say things he could take offense to. He and eventually after many incidents of his anger coming to the for, we dismissed him. Reporter wasnt the first time Vester Flanagan portrayed himself ass a victim. He filed a lawsuit against another station in 2000 alleging Racial Di