at Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County, as Parker interviewed Gardner about the upcoming 50th anniversary festivities for Smith Mountain Lake, a local tourism destination. Things were spiraling out of control,” Overton said. “This gentleman was disturbed at the way things had turned out at some point in his life. said at a news conference.Īccording to the network, the man claiming to be Flanagan says in the “suicide note” that he bought a gun two days after the Charleston, South Carolina church shootings, seeking revenge for racial discrimination, sexual harassment and workplace bullying he said he suffered as a gay black man.
That document is being analyzed by investigators, Franklin County Sheriff W.Q.
“We think they were fabricated,” Marks said.ĪBC News reported that a man claiming to be Williams called the network, saying he had just shot two people, and was faxing them a 23-page document. Marks said Williams alleged that other employees made racially tinged comments to him, but said his EEOC claim was dismissed and none of his allegations could be corroborated. They say Williams filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Parker, and that Ward had reported Williams to human resources. Tweets posted on Williams’ Twitter account Wednesday described workplace conflicts with both victims. “He did live shots during our morning show for several years.” He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked,” said WDBJ spokesman Mike Morgan. Others at the station said it was particularly hard for Ott, who watched the shooting unfold from the control room. Parker was raised in the Martinsville, Virginia, area and joined the station as an intern after attending James Madison University, where she was the editor of the school’s newspaper, The Breeze. Hurst wrote online that they hadn’t shared their relationship publicly but “were very much in love.” He said they had just moved in together and wanted to get married. Parker, 24, had recently moved in with another co-worker, WDBJ anchor Christ Hurst. Ward, 27, was engaged to a producer at the station, Melissa Ott, who was celebrating her last day on the job. He did not take that well,” Marks explained, adding that police had to escort him out of the station when he was fired. “Eventually after many incidents of his anger coming to the fore, we dismissed him. The gunman waited until Ward’s camera was pointed at Parker, and then fired repeatedly.įlanagan was described by Jeffrey Marks, WDBJ’s president and general manager as an “an unhappy man” and “difficult to work with,” always “looking out for people to say things he could take offense to.”
VIRGINIA CAMERAMAN SHOOTING TV
The shooter walked up to the victims and stood a few feet away, but with all three in the midst of the live TV interview, none seemed to notice. Video posted on Bryce Williams’ Twitter account and Facebook page hours later showed an outstretched arm holding the handgun. Their interview subject, Vicki Gardner, was in stable condition later Wednesday after surgery for her wounds. Parker and Ward died at the scene after the gunman fired about 15 shots. WDBJ quickly switched back to the anchor at the station, her eyes large and jaw dropping as she said, “OK, not sure what happened there.” The station later went live again, reporting on their own staff as the story developed. Ward fell, too, and the camera he had been holding on his shoulder captured a fleeting image of the suspect holding a handgun. Then, at about 6:45 a.m., morning show viewers saw her suddenly scream and run, crying “Oh my God,” as she fell. The live spot by reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward was nothing out of the ordinary: They were interviewing a local official at an outdoor shopping mall for a tourism story.
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