UPDATE: Fired reporter shoots self after on-air killings of TV station reporter & photographer
UPDATE
(It is now confirmed that Vester Lee Flanagan AKA Bryce Williams, died this afternoon after being flown to Inova Fairfax Hospital.)
The suspect in the murders of a WDBJ-TV reporter and photographer is a former on-air reporter who posted video of the killings on social media and had a grudge against both of his former co-workers. Vester Lee Flanagan used the on-air name of Bryce Williams.
The latest word is that Flanagan/Williams shot himself on I-66 near Front Royal. As of 12:05 pm EST, Virginia State Police say Flanagan/Williams has a pulse but is in very critical condition.
Virginia State Police say they spotted Flanagan/Williams on I-66 around 11:30 a.m. They report he shot himself after police activated their lights to pull him over:
A Twitter account used by Bryce Williams tweeted videos of the shooting. The account was quickly suspended, and the videos are no longer available.
Williams’ tweets, posted around 11 a.m., included “Alison made racist comments,” “They hired her after that???,” “Adam went to hr on me after working with me one time!!!” and “I filmed the shooting see Facebook.”
Governor Terry McAuliffe, live on WTOP’s Ask The Governor: “Law enforcement personnel have a photo of the suspect. We believe it’s a disgruntled employee of the station, and they’re in pursuit.”
EARLIER
Two WDBJ7 employees were killed Wednesday morning in an attack at Bridgewater Plaza.
This happened during a live broadcast around 6:45 a.m.
Police are looking for a suspect who apparently opened fire on WDBJ7 photographer Adam Ward and WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker.
Adam was 27-years-old. Alison just turned 24.
WARNING: The video below shows the shooting and is being played on the Roanoke Times website and other news media.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OP2PZ9DlA_g
Franklin County deputies are searching for a suspect after multiple shots were fired at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake Wednesday morning, according to a sheriff’s office spokesman.
Part of the incident was caught on video during WDBJ’s morning broadcast. The station was interviewing Vicki Gardner, head of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce.
During a live news update just before 9 a.m., WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks reported that reporter Alison Parker and photographer Adam Ward died shortly after the shooting.
In an email, Barb Nocera with the Chamber of Commerce said that Gardner was shot in the back and is in surgery.
Click here if video above fails to play
Photos of the suspect in the shooting death of two members of the WDBJ7 news crew were released by Virginia State Police Wednesday morning.
State police said the shooter had not been apprehended. The suspect could be seen in still shots from the photographer’s video. He was said to be holding a weapon.
If anyone has information about the identity of the gunman or other information that may assist investigators, they are asked to call 911 or the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office at 540-483-3000.
