Two journalists shot during interview

Lexi Vinick August 26, 2015 2:30 p.m.

ROANOKE, Va.- WDBJ journalist Alison Parker,

24, and camera man Adam Ward, 27, were shot at
6:43 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza near Smith
Mountain Lake. The shooter, Vester Lee Flanagan,
approached the two during an interview with Vicky
Gardner. Ward and Parker died at the scene.

Gardner is an official from the local chamber of

commerce. She was taken to Corelian Memorial
Hospitaland is being treated for non-life threatening
injuries. She is currently in stable condition after
surgery.

Flanagan fled the initial scene in a Ford Mustang.

Police began their search operation to locate the The two victims, Allison Parker
suspect after receiving tips from local residents that and Adam Ward. (NBC News)
his vehicle was located at Roanoke Regional
Airport. He drove away in a Chevrolet Sonic that he
had rented a month earlier.

Virginia State Police found Flanagan on Interstate 66 via license plate reader. Officials
caught Flanagan in his vehicle with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Flanagan was flown
to Inova Fairfax Hospital with life-threatening injuries, and was pronounced dead at 1:26
p.m.

Flanagan was a former reporter at WDBJ7 and went by Bryce Williams on-air. He was
fired from the station shortly before the shooting occurred.

Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton reported in a press conference this morning that the
shooting could be the result of a letter written by the suspect. Overton stated that
Flanagan faxed a lengthy document to ABC News prior to the shooting that sparked
suspicion.

Our investigators now have a copy of it and its use in the course of the investigation will
be continuing, said Overton.

Overall, a motive has not been clearly identified from the situation. Overton explained
that they are still investigating the beginning stages.

-MORE-
It is obvious that this gentleman was disturbed in some way, the ways things had
transpired at some point in his life, Overton said. It would appear that things were
spiraling out of control.

Parker and Ward were both local residents of Roanoke. Ward graduated from Virginia
Tech in 2011 and joined the WDBJ team directly after graduation. Parker graduated from
James Madison University and became a reporter for the television company in 2014.
The two journalists had been working together for almost a year.

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