Who Was VA Shooter Vester Lee Flanagan aka Bryce Williams? [Photos]
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The horrific on-air shooting of a Roanoke, Va. news journalist and her cameraman by former newsman Vester Flanagan, aka Bryce Williams, has shocked the nation to the core. Flanagan, who shot himself and later died of his wounds on, was connected to the WDBJ-7 news crew as a former employee who had some personal issues with the station.
The situation unfolded during a live WDBJ-7 broadcast with reporter Alison Parker and her cameraman, Adam Ward onsite on Wednesday (Aug. 26) morning around 6:45 a.m at a plaza. After Flanagan flashed his gun in the camera and gunned down Parker, 24, and Ward, 27, during the live broadcast. Flanagan then uploaded the video to his social media accounts, which was shared heavily before largely being scrubbed from the Internet.
In the wake of Flanagan’s death, many are scrambling to unveil details of the troubled former reporter’s background and it figures to potentially be a lengthy process. The tragic event has been part of the national conversation since yesterday, sparking heated debates about gun control laws in the country.
On the following pages, Hip-Hop Wired examines what we know about Virginia television shooter Vester Flanagan, aka Bryce Williams.
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Photo: WDBJ-7
His Full Name Is Vester Lee Flanagan II
While reports that a former reporter by the name of Bryce Williams initially leaked to the media after yesterday’s events, it was revealed that the shooter’s birth name was Vester Lee Flanagan II.
Flanagan Had History Of Work Troubles
As has been revealed, Flanagan was fired in 2013 from WDBJ-7, with his former co-workers stating he was difficult to work with. In his 20-year journalism career, worked in San Francisco, Savannah, Ga., and Midland, Texas if his LinkedIn profile is to be believed.
Flanagan Filed A Racial Discrimination Suit In Florida In 2000
While working as a broadcaster for Florida’s WTWC-TV in Tallahassee, Flanagan claims a white higher-up called him a “monkey” and said inflammatory things about Black people. The case was settled out of court and Flanagan was later let go. The station said Flanagan was let go due to finances, and not because of the settled lawsuit.
Former WDBJ Staff Says He Complained Of Racism Often
According to a CNN report, it appears that Flanagan rubbed his colleagues the wrong way with his frequent claims of racism and other issues within the workplace. One co-worker said Flanagan was difficult to work with and threw a violent tantrum when he was fired.
Flanagan Had Issues With Parker Apparently
On his now-deleted Twitter account, Flanagan tweeted that Parker was racist and had complaints filed against her before announcing he put the shooting up on Facebook.
Flanagan Was An Oakland, California Native, Son Of Former NFL Player
Flanagan was raised as a Jehovah’s Witness in Oakland, Calif. and attended school in the Bay Area. His father, Flanagan Sr., was a former NFL player.
Flanagan Claimed He Was a Model
Along with Flanagan’s strange ramblings and selfies on his social media accounts, he revealed in one post that he was a former model although nothing has been confirmed.
