The suspect in Wednesday morning’s shooting at a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza in Moneta, Virginia has been identified. The suspect has been identified as Vester Lee Flanagan of Roanoke, Virginia. Multiple news agencies reported a pursuit of the suspect who allegedly shot Alison Parker, Adam Ward was underway at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. The pursuit is on Interstate 64.
About noon local time Flanagan is believed to have shot himself on I-66 near Front Royal. Virginia State police reported Flanagan had a pulse, but was critically injured. Flanagan died a short time later in the hospital.
Vester Lee Flanagan used the on-air name of Bryce Williams. He allegedly took his own video of the shooting and posted it online. Both his Facebook and Twitter accounts have been suspended.
A news conference was scheduled for 2:00 p.m. ET/1:00 p.m. CT.
Screen grab being shared on social media shows apparent black-clad gunman opening fire on @WDBJ7 crew in Moneta, Va. pic.twitter.com/sqW1C2NwQy
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) August 26, 2015
WDBJ News anchor Chris Hurst has posted on Twitter that he was in a relationship with Alison Parker, but they had kept the relationship a secret.
We didn't share this publicly, but @AParkerWDBJ7 and I were very much in love. We just moved in together. I am numb. pic.twitter.com/tUrHVwAXcN
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
We were together almost nine months. It was the best nine months of our lives. We wanted to get married.We just celebrated her 24th birthday
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
She was the most radiant woman I ever met. And for some reason she loved me back. She loved her family, her parents and her brother.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
I am comforted by everyone at @WDBJ7. We are a family. She worked with Adam every day. They were a team. I am heartbroken for his fiancee.
— Chris Hurst (@chrishurstwdbj) August 26, 2015
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