Lawyer discusses role social media played in Virginia shooting

It is also claimed the 41-year-old had accused the murdered reporters of making racist comments.

In an impromptu broadcast, Jeff Marks, WDBJ president and general manager, described the pair as “two fine journalists“. “He quickly became, gathered a reputation as someone who was hard to work with”. The author of the manifesto claims that the mass shooting of nine churchgoers in Charleston, South Carolina on July 17 prompted him to by a gun and carry out the shootings of his former colleagues.

The ex-reporter moved through several television markets in his career, usually leaving after a few years, not always on good terms.

“What do you do?” We do not know the motive. “Why were they the targets and not I?”

An image from the broadcast showed the gunman standing over the camera and pointing his weapon down. By noon, the gunman was reported to have shot himself on the highway three hours away from the crime scene. Troopers found Flanagan suffering from a self-inflicted gunshot injury and he later died at the hospital.

Public records show station management called 911 when they fired Flanagan, and that he walked out of the building saying he “would be back”.

The suspect was identified as Vester Lee Flanagan II, 41, of Roanoke, by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.

Video of the shooting, this time from the perspective of the gunman, was later posted on the Twitter account and Facebook page of Bryce Williams.

And last, the disturbing words: “I filmed the shooting see Facebook”. Another tweet suggested that Ward complained to human resources officials after the pair worked together.

He had previously worked at the news station with Alison and Adam, but he used his professional name, Bryce Williams.

Parker was a graduate of James Madison University and Ward graduated from Virginia Tech, according to the station.

The station generally denied the allegations of discrimination and said it had legitimate reasons for ending Flanagan’s employment, including poor performance, misbehavior with regard to co-workers, refusal to follow directions, use of profanity and budgetary reasons.

His lawsuit, filed in a Virginia court in March 2014, asked for a minimum of US $25,000 (AU $35,000) from the station after he was sacked in February 2013.

Social media posts by a person who appeared to be Flanagan indicated the suspect had grievances against the station, which dismissed two years ago.