Multiple outlets reported Wednesday afternoon that shooting suspect Vester Lee Flanagan died after shooting himself during a police manhunt.
Franklin County Sheriff W.Q. Overton Jr. confirmed in a press conference that Flanagan died at around 1:30 p.m. from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The suspect shot himself hours after he shot and killed two journalists for television station WDBJ, Alison Parker and Adam Ward.
Overton did not have many additional details on the shooting or the suspect’s motives, but he confirmed that the suspect, Vester Lee Flanagan, used to work at WDBJ.
“This gentleman was disturbed in some way,” Overton said. “It would appear things were spiraling out of control.”
Vicki Gardner, of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce, who was being interviewed at the time of the shooting, sustained non-life threatening injuries and remains in treatment, Overton said.
After shooting the three victims, Flanagan fled the scene in his car, Overton said. The suspect then left his car at a local airport and began driving a rental car. A state trooper spotted the suspect driving on I-66 in Virginia. The suspect then crashed his car and police found that the driver suffered a gunshot wound, Overton said.
