(Newswire.net — August 26, 2015) — Virginia – Disturbing videos flooded the media showing last minutes of a WDBJ news crews lives. The first video is from the perspective of the cameraman, but the second is from the shooter’s angle.
During a live video broadcast of an interview at Bridgewater Plaza in Virginia, shots were heard and the camera fell down, catching the terrified look of a reporter, before smashing to the ground. Several more shots were heard before the broadcast was cut. WDBJ cameraman Adam Ward, 27 and reporter Alison Parker, 24, were killed. Reportedly, the women from the tourist organization being interviewed were unharmed.
The last seconds of the video revealed a glimpse of a shooter, later identified as former WSBJ employee Bryce Williams, legal name Vester Lee Flanagan. After numerous incidents, gaining a reputation for being “difficult to work with,” the station dismissed him in 2013, according to the station’s management.
“He was looking for people to say things he could take offense to,” WDBJ general manager Jeff Marks said in a live broadcast on Wednesday, adding that Williams didn’t take the firing well.
“We had to call the police to escort him from the building,” marks said.
Williams filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, however, EEOC found no evidence of wrongdoing and dismissed the complaints. Reportedly, Williams filled the same complaint before in 2000 after he was fired from a Talahassee, Florida NBC affiliate, but EEOC dismissed that complaint as well.
The video posted by Williams showed him approaching reporter Alison Parker while she interviewed a person live on air. Photographer Adam Ward could also be seen in the footage. Parker was unaware of the situation as she continued with the interview until Williams raised a handgun. After shots were fired at the cameraman, Parker is seen running for shelter. The video blacks out but more shots can be heard.
After being chased by police officers, Williams shot himself on I-66 in Faquier County near mile marker 17, WDBJ reported, citing state police, approximately four hours after the shooting.
Previous reports stated that Williams had killed himself, but the latest information is that he is still alive and in critical condition.
There are no official statements explaining the possible motive, but media speculates that Williams was filled with rage, according his tweets accusing “Allison” for making racist comments.