Two members of the WDBJ news team were shot this morning during a live broadcast in Moneta, Virginia at Bridgewater Plaza.
Reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were both killed in the incident. Interview subject Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was taken into surgery and is currently in a stable condition.
Charlottesville residents held a vigil Wednesday evening at St. Paul’s Church to honor the victims.
The Franklin County Sheriff’s Office held a press conference on the shooting Wednesday afternoon.
“A WDBJ TV News Crew was conducting an interview live at the plaza with Miss Gardner when Mr. Vester Lee Flanagan II, age 41, of Roanoke, suddenly appeared and approached them and started shooting,” Sheriff Bill Overton said.
Franklin County Police, with assistance from the Virginia State Police, attempted to apprehend Flanagan in relation to the shooting after he fled the scene.
Flanagan previously worked at WDBJ on-air as Bryce Williams and was pursued after posting a graphic video of the shooting on Twitter and Facebook along with a description of why he was angry with the victims.
Flanagan said he filed a complaint against Parker with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and had been reported to WDBJ human resources by Ward.
ABC News has reported that it received a 23-page fax “manifesto” at 8:26 a.m. the morning of the shooting from someone claiming to be Flanagan, explaining his motives for the shooting. The document was promptly turned over to the authorities, ABC said.
The manifesto, which the author referred to as a “Suicide Note for Friends and Family,” cited racism, sexual harassment and bullying at work.
Flanagan was apprehended in his car early in the afternoon after a brief pursuit by Virginia State Troopers.
When State Trooper Pamela Neff approached the vehicle, she noticed Flanagan had suffered from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to the Franklin County Sheriff Office’s press conference.
Flanagan was taken to the Fairfax Inova Hospital in Northern Virginia, where he was pronounced dead around 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Gov. Terry McAuliffe released a statement today regarding the shooting, offering his condolences to the families of the lost WDBJ7 crew and thanking all emergency and public safety personnel involved.
“As we reflect with heavy hearts on this tragedy, it is appropriate to begin to ask questions about how we can prevent these senseless events in the future,” McAuliffe said.
Sen. Mark Warner also released a statement today expressing his condolences.
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