This post has been updated.
The man suspected of killing two Virginia journalists and injuring their interview subject during a live broadcast posted what appeared to be his own videos of the shooting on social media before turning the gun on himself.
Authorities identified the suspect as Vester Lee Flanagan, who also goes by Bryce Williams. Flanagan previously worked for WDBJ, the same television station as the victims, reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.
The suspect published graphic videos of the shooting on Twitter and Facebook. Both social media sites quickly removed his accounts. The video posted to Facebook appears to show the gunman walking toward Parker, Ward, and their interviewee, Vicki Gardner, of the Smith Mountain Lake Chamber of Commerce. As he approached, he seemed to whisper “bitch” and lifted the gun into the camera’s frame. He then panned the camera between Parker and Ward as they continued with the interview. The video then showed shots fired at Parker as she screamed and ran away before the video cut out.
Before his account was suspended, the alleged suspect sent several tweets about Parker and the shooting. TPM was able to capture screengrabs of a few of the tweets before the account was taken down:
The suspect in the shooting then shot himself on I-66 in Faquier County, Virginia, on Wednesday morning, state police told WDBJ. Initially, there were conflicting reports about whether Flanagan had died. After first reporting that he had died, WDBJ indicated that he was still alive and in critical condition.
UPDATE: State police now say man suspected of killing two WDBJ7 employees shot himself, and he is still alive http://t.co/XLx3pS2I5X
— WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 26, 2015
Later on Wednesday afternoon, the Washington Post reported that Flanagan had died.
Gardner was injured in the shooting and is in stable condition following emergency surgery, according to The Roanoke Times.
