Gay Virginia man kills journalists on live TV, blames ‘homophobia and racism

The man called again at 10 a.m. Wednesday morning, introducing himself as Bryce, but mentioned his legal name of Vester Lee Flanagan. A third shooting victim, Vicki Gardner, is in stable condition.

He reported under the name Bryce Williams on the air. Jeffrey Marks, WDBJ’s president and general manager, said 41-year-old Flanagan had to be escorted by police out of the station when he was sacked. “Nobody believed it”. ABC News contacted the authorities immediately and provided them with the fax. Both Parker and the interviewee scream.

“He was vocal in the station about his issues”.

Flanagan was eventually let go in 2013, but not without a fight.

“Yes, it will sound like I am angry…I am”. Call the police, I’m not leaving.

Vester Flanagan is driving a 2009 gray Ford Mustang, the sheriff’s representative said, stopping short of calling Flanagan a suspect. Based on his work history, Mr Flanagan appears to have been unemployed at the time of the shooting.

WDBJ was the last stop for Flanagan in a career that took him to places like Greenville, N.C., Midland, Texas, and Savannah, Ga.

Flanagan alleged a producer in an upper level management position called him a “monkey”.

“I just saw him excessively driving. I don’t know this man”, Bush said.

A subsequent performance review rated Flanagan’s ability to work with his colleagues as “unacceptable”.

He said he was spurred by the murder in a historic black church in Charlotte, “What sent me over the top was the church shooting. He wanted to go to the network level someday”.

According to court documents, Flanagan, who is black, had been employed at WTWC as a newscaster and anchor.

“He was a good on-air performer, a pretty good reporter. And then things started getting a little odd”, journalist Don Shafer told a San Diego news station where he is now news director. He says he even killed his cats in a forest “because of them”.

WNCN reports Ward, the photographer who police say Flanagan killed, is said to have recorded the entire ordeal. 24-Hour News 8’s sister station WNCN, uncovered a complaint that was dismissed past year that details the specifics of Flanagan’s employment. “That’s pretty hard to say no to”.

A year later, the former reporter sued the station, claiming he was subjected to retaliation, harassment and discrimination. He charged several staff members with making racially-motivated comments but the EEOC could not corroborate any of his claims and dismissed the case, Marks told The Washington Post.

The man who shot dead two former colleagues on live television may have planned the killing weeks ago.

In a “rambling” suicide note faxed to ABC News, he allegedly cited racism and homophobia – identifying himself as a gay black man.

“What is incredibly sad is that these very troubled, very selfish people are not only taking the lives of innocents, but they are attempting to shake the foundation of what makes us great – freedom to worship, freedom of expression and freedom of the press”.