UPDATE: The shooter has reportedly shot himself.
UPDATE: the shooter is live tweeting at https://twitter.com/bryce_williams7 – the page includes new videos of the horrific shooting. Twitter quickly suspended the account.
He says his motivation was the victim, Alison Parker, making “racist comments”.
The shooter says his motivation was the victim making “racist comments”. #WDBJ pic.twitter.com/aBLeW6Jtqw
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 26, 2015
UPDATE: The shooter has reportedly been identified as a black male named Lester (or Vester) Lee Flanagan, known on air as “Bryce Williams”. The Governor says an arrest is imminent following a high speed chase. The shooter is reportedly a disgruntled ex-employee.
BREAKING: police are now searching for @bryce_williams7 aka Vester Flanagan, fmr. reporter for WDBJ #CNN #shooting pic.twitter.com/aePWTCuJM9
— Amy La Porte (@AmyALaPorte) August 26, 2015
#LesterLeeFlanagan has been identified in #WDBJ shooting. http://t.co/jJ3EddPAyJ #TVShooting #SuspectAtLarge #Moneta
— Policy of Truth (@MassWhole) August 26, 2015
A reporter and a cameraman were shot dead live on air this morning in Franklin County, Virginia. Video footage of the incident shows a chilling glimpse of the gunman.
“WDBJ cameraman Adam Ward was filming reporter Alison Parker interviewing Vicki Gardner, the local chamber of commerce director, for a light-hearted segment at 6:45am when about eight shots rang out,” reports the Daily Mail.
“Screams are then heard as the women duck and the camera falls to the floor. A person dressed in all black is then seen standing nearby with what appears to be a gun raised in one hand pointed at Ward.”
Ward and Parker were later confirmed dead. Gardner was shot in the back and is in surgery.
The gunman, who fired six or seven times, is still on the loose. Police are reportedly chasing the shooter on Interstate 81. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is involved in the manhunt.
WARNING: DISTURBING VIDEO
A close up image of the gunman quickly circulated on Twitter.
This is horrific. Hope this monster is caught immediately. http://t.co/ADj1VlFE48 #WDBJ pic.twitter.com/M445agHK3Z
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 26, 2015
Liberals are already exploiting the tragedy to push gun control.
.@Olivianuzzi It took you all of what, an hour, to politicize this?
— Paul Joseph Watson (@PrisonPlanet) August 26, 2015
Parker had been dating WDBJ-TV anchor Chris Hurst, who subsequently posted a series of heartbreaking tweets.
We didn’t share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.We just celebrated her 24th birthday
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
This page will be updated as more news breaks.
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