Newsroom in a document faxed to abc news this morning after the shootings, flanagan blamed his rage on racism and on bully because he was gay. He called himself a human powder keg just waiting to go boom. It was about 6 45 this morning when 24yearold reporter Alison Parker and 27yearold photographer adam ward were simply doing their jobs, conducting a live interview for the morning news for station wdbj. Thats when the gunman struck, parker screaming as she tried to run and wards camera falling to the ground but still managing to of the suspect. We have learned that flanagan was a disgruntled former reporter for the station who went by the name Bryce Williams. He had been fired two years ago and was described as difficult to work with. This is an individual who came to work for us as a reporter and about two years ago im thinking we had to separate him from the company. Reporter we have also learned this afternoon that flanagan sent a 23 page fax to abc news two hours after the shootin
Stunningly posted horrific video of the attack which we will not show. He sent a 23 page document to abc news saying the Charleston Church massacre had stoked his rage and bullying he faced because he was a gay black man. Parker and ward were natives of the roanoke area and worked together about a year. They were young and in rips with coworkers, only deepening a tragedy that has shaken their newsroom. You can hear people behind us in the newsroom crying. Its just really hard to its hard to comprehend. During the shootings, wards camera fell on its side but still captured this haunting image of the shooter gun in hand. The woman being interviewed by alison, Vicky Gardner was shot during the incident but is out of surgery and in stable condition. Abc news has talked to robert avon, his former roommate from 2006 to 12 00. He texted with flanagan minutes after the shooting. Rob says flanagan, known to say odd things admitted to shooting two people and says flanagan was on the phone with h
Hospital. This gentleman was disturbed in some way, the way things transpired at some point in his life. I would appear things were spiraling out of control. Jeff he sent a 23page letter to abc news saying he was motivated by the racism shown in the recent Charleston Church shooting and expressing admiration for the guantanamo in the Virginia Tech and the columbines many kers. Columbines massacres. The colleagues are forced to mourn as they continue covering the news. We are in a state of shock here. You can hear people behind us in the newsroom crying. Its hard to its really hard to even comprehend. Jeff parkers boyfriend the wdbj evening anchor tweeted the heartbreak and a picture calling alison the most radiant movie he ever met and consoling adam wards fiancee who worked as a producer at the station. I cant tell you much they were loved by the wdbj7 team. They both were in love with other members of the team here. Our hearts are broken. Jeff Vicki Gardner the tourism official who w
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
Parker and ward were shot and killed during a Live Television interview outdoor Shopping Mall near mow net at a, virginia this morning. The woman being interviewed also injured. She is out of surgery and in the hospital. The gunman former employee of the same roanoke tv station where the victims worked drove off from the scene before posting video of himself carrying out the killings on social media. He also apparently fax add manifesto explaining his motives to abc news. After chase the shooter drove off the road, officers found him with a self inflicted gunshot wound. He died at the hospital. We have Team Coverage of this developing story tonight. Chris oconnell looking what may have motivated the gunman we begin with dawn timmeney with the timeline of a morning we wont soon forget. Dawn . We certainly wont, lucy. Tonight we are learning someone claiming to be the shooter fax add 23 page manifesto to abc news which may explain his state of mind this morning. It was turned over to aut