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THE MAN WHO earlier today killed a reporter and cameraman live on air on a Virginian TV station has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The Franklin County Sheriff confirmed the shooter died from his injuries at Fairfax Inova Hospital at 1.30pm local time (6.30pm GMT).
In a press conference, Sheriff Bill Overton expressed his condolences with the families and colleagues of the journalists.
He said police are “still piecing together the timeline of events” that occurred ahead of the shooting.
During the ensuing pursuit, a policeman attempted to stop Flanagan but he refused and shot himself.
Overton said the motive for the attack is not yet known, however a manifesto said to be written by Flanagan cites the Charleston church shooting in June as a significant factor.
The victims have been named as reporter Alison Parker (24) and photographer Adam Ward (27). The shooter has been named as Vester Lee Flanagan II.
He previously worked for the station using the on-air name Bryce Williams.
Earlier, WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks said:
I’m not sure whether I want him to live or die. We’re hurt enough that we want to express our anger, and our love for Alison and Adam.
The TV crew were working on a segment for WDBJ7’s Mornin’ show when the incident took place.
Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce was also injured in the shooting. She underwent surgery after being shot.
Chris Turnbull from the Carilion Clinic, where she was treated, said she is in a stable condition.
Flanagan (41) posted footage of the shooting to his personal social media accounts, which have now been suspended.
Todd Schurz, president and CEO of Schurz Communications, which owns WDBJ, said the company is “heartbroken at the tragic and senseless loss of reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward”.
At the time of their murders, they were involved in the most important aspect of journalism — telling the stories important to their local communities. Our focus now is to comfort their families and loved ones and to assist law enforcement in their investigation.
‘Difficult to work with’
Management said Flanagan was let go from the station in 2013, after gaining a reputation for being “difficult to work with”.
Flanagan brought a civil suit against WTWC-TV in Florida in 2000 which was settled out of court. Following his dismissal, he filed a racial discrimination case against WDBJ with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. This was dismissed.
Manifesto
ABC News has reported it received a fax containing a 23-page manifesto from someone named Bryce Williams. The document has been handed over to investigators.
The network reports that the manifesto mentions mass shootings such as Columbine, Virginia Tech and Charleston.
In the document, which is titled ‘Suicide Note for Friends and Family’, Flanagan alleges he was bullied and discriminated against because he is gay and black.
He said the church shooting in Charleston, South Carolina in June – in which nine people were killed at a historic African-American church – drove him to commit today’s murders.
AFP quotes the document as saying:
Why did I do it? I put down a deposit for a gun on 6/19/15. The Church shooting in Charleston happened on 6/17/15.
“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them.”
The initial shooting took place at 6.45am local time (11.45am GMT) while the crew was filming an interview at Bridgewater Plaza shopping centre in Smith Mountain Lake, Moneta.
‘In love’
Ward was engaged to the show’s producer, Melissa Ott, who was marking her last day’s work on the programme before starting a new job.
Brian Stelter, who works with WDBJ7 affiliate CNN, said Ott was in the control when the shooting happened and saw events unfold.
Parker was in a relationship with one of the station’s presenters Chris Hurst. Shortly after the incident, Marks said: “They both were in love,” adding: “Our hearts are broken.”
Marks described the incident as a “terrible crime against two fine journalists”.
WDBJ spokesman Mike Morgan told AP Ward had been with the station for four years.
Adam was our go-to guy. He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked. He did live shots during our morning show for several years.
Parker and Ward’s colleagues have been paying tribute to them.
- with reporting from Dan MacGuill
Originally published: 14.04
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Now that’s a suffering I wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.
Wouldn’t wish the cancer on them either.
(Keep in mind this man spread misinformation about second hand smoke on his show, saying that the WHO were hiding the “real” studies which showed it had zero negative side effects)
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin: Now that’s karma.
@SouperArlene: as some on here might say, “Oh the ironing”
@Red wine and chocolate cake: doesn’t he work for the press?
@Ciarán Ó Fallúin:
When Rush exits “stage Right” in the near future … hopefully the story will likely be turn out as follows :-
His soul arrives in Heaven and is met by St. Peter. He says, ”
‘Welcome to heaven. Before you settle in, it seems there’s a problem. We seldom see anyone like you around here, so we’re not sure what to do with you.’
‘Just let me in, as a God fearing Bible thumping Republican,’ says Rush.
‘Well, I’d like to but I have instructions from above. You’ll have to spend one day in Hell
and one in Heaven
@XvSv:
‘Really, I’ve made up my mind. I want to be in Heaven,’ says Rush L.
‘I’m sorry, but we have our rules.’ replies St Peter
With that, St. Peter escorts him to the lift and he went down, down, down to Hell. The doors open and he finds himself in the middle of a green golf course⛳. In the distance is a clubhouse
@XvSv: sorry journal won’t let me finish
Given his very damaging public comments on second hand smoke… well, I won’t comment.
@Terrence Edwards: He is lucky he can afford health insurance, because if he was poor he would be just collateral damage over there.
When Kobe Bryant died his serious rape case was brushed under the carpet. When this guy is terminally ill all of his subjectively wrong opinions are dug up to push the narrative that it’s not bad news. Sad.
@richiecranium: His rape case wasn’t brushed under the carpet, it was widely discussed. Some media outlets tried to suppress it a little and at least one journalist got suspended for bringing it up but the public at large weren’t subject to the same threat. Why give people a pass for their evil actions simply because they are sick or die. At least in Kobe’s case he showed some limited form of contrition. Limbaugh doesn’t seem to be burdened by any such humanity
@Brendan Gordon: I don’t recall seeing any mention of such on the journal, let alone half an article dedicated to it. And there’s a large difference between rape and having a conservative worldview. Sticks and stones etc etc
@richiecranium: There’s nothing wrong with having a conservative world view. But Limbaugh went out of his way to insult people and direct hate towards them. He’s a misogynist to boot and his views on women are well known. No target was too vulnerable not to be subject to attack including Chelsea Clinton when she was a teenager growing up in the White House. I don’t see that as conservatism in any way. He made money by hating. The more hate the more money – which is also a commentary on the state of politics in the US. His show was largely a fact free zone. There’s nothing at all to admire about this man. But I’m glad he’s deepening his relationship with God. Let’s hope it works because Rush was never the “love your neighbour”, “turn the other cheek” or Good Samaritan” kind of guy.
@John R: he was a provocateur. And no matter how childish or foul mouthed he was he doesn’t deserve having his terminal illness to be laughed at and celebrated. A rapiist on the other hand…
@richiecranium: He is a liar who has done harm to thousands by stoking fear, hatred and ignorance and all acting deliberately and knowingly in his own self interest. Provocateur is a polite way of saying he was a troll who put his own self interest above the well-being of others. He deserves much worse than what has befallen him. He has spent decades laughing at and profiting from the pain and misfortune of others. You’re determined to protect his dignity while you have no regard for the dignity of his targets. He lived by the sword and now he’s going to die by it. Slowly and painfully if there’s any justice in the world
@Brendan Gordon: that’s just pure waffle. All I did was point out a double standard. Would bet a pretty penny that you and every other commentator here didn’t even know who he was when you woke up this morning.
@richiecranium: A double standard that doesn’t exist, one that you put forward because you wanted to indulge your fantasies of persecuted conservatives. I have been very familiar with him and his I’ll for a long long time, do you actually have any idea of what he has come out with over the years? The false narratives that he has pushed and the generation of conservative con men in right wing media who aped his playbook? Or are you just upset because someone was mean to a white man.
@Brendan Gordon: lad you need to calm down and stop manufacturing an argument that isn’t being made here haha
@Brendan Gordon: I literally called him “wrong”, “childish” and “foul mouthed”. Nowhere anywhere did I support anything he stands for. Celebrating death is not cool in this instance. If you can find me someone he murdered or raped I’ll buy the first round. Thats all buddy.
@richiecranium: So you obviously aren’t familiar with him. He has stoked plenty of racist and reactionary attacks with his fear mongering, he has been namechecked directly in the “manifestos” of many mass shooters, he deliberately mislead his listeners about the hazards of tobacco smoke. Plenty of blood on his hands. The world will be a better, kinder, safer place without him.
@Brendan Gordon: 1. Jeremy Corbyn has stoked plenty of anti semitism, does he deserve to die? NO. 2. The Dayton shooter was an Elizabeth Warren fan. What about her? NO. Words and actions do not equate. It is not about politics or race it’s just basic human decency. Get a grip mate.
@richiecranium: Reference any anti-Semitic public statement Corbyn has made. Does one exist? No. Did the dayton shooter say in their own words that they were shooting because of things Warren said? No. So as long as you don’t pull the trigger yourself and convince someone else to do your dirty work then your innocent? I think it’s you that needs to get a grip mate. Lying, discrimination and corruption are fine but being mean to an ill person is a are too far eh?
@Brendan Gordon: https://www.google.ie/amp/s/amp.usatoday.com/amp/1943289001
@Brendan Gordon: read what I said. Read the links. Tell me I’m lying without putting words in my mouth.
@Brendan Gordon: lying,discrimination and corruption are not fine. I never said they were fine. But they do not warrant the death penalty. That is my point. Everything else is just your own bs. Give me rest
@richiecranium: You’re lying. There’s nothing in those links that backs up what you said. Before I assumed you were just out of your depth. Now I know you’re deliberately trying to warp the narrative. Good to know, it’s always handy to know who’s who in the comments sections.
@richiecranium: he’s not getting the death penalty. Nobody did this to him except maybe himself and the cigarette companies he lied on behalf of. Couldn’t happen to a nicer guy.
@Brendan Gordon: 1. I said “Jeremy Corbyn stoked up anti semitism”. Refusing to apologize for your parties (which he was the leader of) anti semitism is stoking up anti semitism by all accounts. 2. I said the “Dayton shooter was an Elizabeth Warren supporter.” The article clearly backs up that claim. You are manufacturing an argument good sir
@richiecranium: Refusing to apologise for the actions of people he can’t control is not stoking anti-Semitism and being a Warren supporter is nowhere near the same as Limbaugh being cited by shooters themselse as a source of inspiration to commit murder. You are full of sh!t “good sir”
@Brendan Gordon: The logic behind that first point is so so warped. Leaders are responsible for their subordinates actions. It’s not a difficult concept. A simple apology to the Jewish community who were willing to emmigrate wouldnt have been hard. Instead he stood by antisemism: thus stoking antisemitism. Your second point literally contradicts your first point because now your saying Rush is responsible for others actions. (Without an appropriate source mind you, but I’ll just take your word for it cos it doesn’t effect my original and core point) Even though they had no connection whatsoever.
@Brendan Gordon: you are literally contradicting yourself. That’s a tell tale sign to put the phone down and go for a walk or something
@richiecranium: If you are stoking hatred and fear through lies then you are responsible for the results. By the way, here’s the link to the journal’s own story about Kobe’s death that references the rape accusation so you can stop being so sensitive about your precious racist Rush being the victim of a double standard. https://the42.ie/4981244
@Brendan Gordon: 4 Kobe articles, one mention hidden away on a massive article on the42. Good man Brendan. You’ve won this time. I guess Rush and his family do deserve this horrible tragedy. You’re the better man.
@richiecranium: Only tragedy here is that he didn’t get it before he had wrought so much damage to American and world culture by feeding into the fears and insecurities of repulsive cowards like yourself.
@Brendan Gordon: never heard of him before this morning. Really hope a tragedy like this doesn’t happen to anyone you or I know. It’s horrific to see happen to any family. Wish you could just see it for what it is and not some political nonsense. Left or right, celebrating cancer is not good. Words are words and actions are actions. That’s me done now see ye
@richiecranium: my father died of pancreatic cancer ten years ago. I watched him vomit litres of blood the day before he died. I know first hand the devastation of cancer to a family. You have no idea of the harm Rush Limbaugh has caused and yet you feel the need to defend him and claim he was somehow a victim of a double standard because you didn’t see enough criticism of a black sports star for your liking. Good riddance to you
@richiecranium: Jeremy Corbyn didn’t stoke.up antisemitism he was ambiguous at most as for E Warren argument?
Thoughts and prayers and an amen. There – that’s him sorted.
I suppose you can only breath out so much poison before you do your self damage.
I’m sure he’ll be welcome in heaven because of his very christian attitude!
That’s terrible
It’s karma.
@SouperArlene: absolutely, anybody who disagrees with my political views also deserves a painful and premature death. How do you plan to vote Saturday by the way? Just want to establish if I should consider any terminal misfortunes that may befall you in future as an amusing dose of karma.
@Gordon Comstock: I think the Karma reference is to the fact that this guy spread misinformation about second hand cigarette smoke. Of course, there really is no such thing as Karma.
@Gordon Comstock: I believe SouperArlene is referring to this; https://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2017/02/13/slate-secondhand-smoke-isnt-as-bad-as-we-thought/
@Gordon Comstock: Maybe look into what you’re commenting on so you don’t look so silly. Because of this man, a lot of other people got lung cancer.
Good
Awwww
Hmm I wont comment
@Gerard Lord: you say it best when you say nothing at all
Ah shure….
Well, I wasn’t expecting that news today……….. (big news this side of the water!).
The comments here prove again how hateful and bitter the Liberals are.
@BOH®: and conservatives are a shining beacon of tolerance and love… Lol
@Dave Thomas: i know i shouldn’t tar them all with the same brush but the fact he is described as a Republican Kingmaker says it all about what a bunch American people can be
@Dave Thomas: Ahahaha. Let’s just see what happened in the US in 2016,and the UK elections this year. Liberal elites were slating, violently protesting, and mocking conservatives constantly. Guess what happened, two landslides for the conservatives. LOL.
John Lennon retired as Mark Staycer & Noel Snow. Elvis Presley retired as Bob Joyce. David Bowie retired as Jack Steven. Michael Jackson retired as Dave Dave. Bill Hicks retired as Alex Jones and Jim Morrison retired as Rush Limbaugh, or so it goes.
Rush is a absolute radio legend.Please God he’ll be on the mend soon.
Lol
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