Inter1na5 tional FRIDAY, AUGUST 28, 2015

US TV gunman warned he was ‘human powder keg’

ROANOKE: The former television reporter calls for tougher gun laws in the United Chamber of Commerce, at the lakeside after the shooting. In the rambling mani - who shot dead two journalists during a live States. Flanagan was said to have bought Bridgewater Resort near Roanoke. festo, Flanagan-an African American sacked US broadcast before killing himself warned his gun legally. “It breaks my heart every Several shots were heard, as well as in 2013 by WDBJ-said he was sent over the he had been a “human powder keg... just time you read or hear about these kinds of screams, as Ward’s camera fell to the floor, edge by the June mass shooting of black waiting to go BOOM.” incidents,” President Barack Obama told an capturing a fuzzy and chilling glimpse of the worshippers at a church in South Carolina. The gunman-Vester Lee Flanagan, 41, ABC affiliate in . gunman and his handgun. Later, a video He described himself as a “human pow - also known as Bryce Williams-posted chill - The killing also raised questions about posted by Flanagan under the Twitter der keg... just waiting to go BOOM!!!!” ing footage of Wednesday’s shocking dou - how the Internet provided a brief but unfil - account @bryce_williams7, showed the Flanagan also complained in what he ble murder online. Reporter Alison Parker, tered window on a horrific crime. “We will, shooter brandishing a weapon at Parker. called a “Suicide Note for Friends and 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, were over time, heal from this,” said a grief-strick - Both she and Ward apparently did not Family” of racial discrimination and bullying shot and killed at close range while con - en morning anchor, Kimberly McBroom, see the gunman. Gardner, 62, was wound - “for being a gay, black man.” Jeffrey Marks, ducting an on-air interview for WDBJ, a CBS holding hands with two colleagues. ed in the back in the attack. She was report - the station manager, said Flanagan was dis - affiliate in Roanoke, , about 240 Video of the shooting-apparently filmed ed in good condition yesterday after under - missed “after many incidents of his anger miles (385 kilometers) southwest of by Flanagan himself-was posted on Twitter going emergency surgery. coming to the fore.” Washington. and Facebook. The footage was later In New York, ABC News said it received a Speaking on WDBJ Thursday, he Friends, family and the community at removed. Parker was interviewing Vicki 23-page manifesto from a man identifying described the manifesto as “nonsense.” large mourned the tragedy, which renewed Gardner, head of the Smith Mountain Lake himself as Bryce Williams nearly two hours ‘Love of my life’ — AFP

Slain US TV reporter, cameraman become local celebrities ROANOKE, Virginia: Alison Parker seemed destined for the anchor chair. Adam Ward was upbeat, the kind of cameraman everyone wanted to work with in the wee hours of the morning. The two young journalists were killed on live television Wednesday by a disgruntled former reporter they once worked with at WDBJ-TV. They were doing a routine story about local tourism when the gunman walked up to them and fired. The chill - ing images of Parker running away were captured on Ward’s cam - era as he fell to the ground. Like young journalists everywhere, the pair was eager for a story, hungry to cover big news and active on social media. In Roanoke, the 67th largest U.S. media market, Parker and Ward were also something else: hometown kids who became local celebrities. “They grew up in this area,” Franklin County Sheriff Bill Overton said. “They were part of our community.” They were also part of a close-knit family of TV sta - tion employees who watched the killings unfold on the air and grieved publicly. And both had found love in the newsroom. Ward, 27, was engaged to producer Melissa Ott, who watched the shooting unfold from the control room. Her last day was sup - posed to be Wednesday because she had accepted a new job at a station in Charlotte, . Parker, 24, was dating Chris Hurst, an anchor at the station. ROANOKE, Virginia: WDBJ TV weatherman Leo Hirshbrunner(C) views the makeshift memorial with members of the crew They had just moved in together. The couples attended sport - at the gate of WDBJ’s television studios yesterday in Roanoke, Virginia. —AFP ing events and restaurants together, documenting their lives with photos and comments on social media. “We’re in this busi - ness, and it’s a tough business. It’s one that requires, I think, a sense of camaraderie, and I think we have that here,” Hurst Memories, tears mark newscast said. Parker and Ward worked as a team for the station’s “Mornin’” show, a time-slot where many broadcast journalists get their start. They covered everything from breaking news to a day after on-air shootings stories about child abuse. Emotional crescendo of WDBJ-TV’s ‘Mornin’ show Brother and sister ROANOKE, Virginia: A day after two journal - studio during commercial breaks. leagues. Hirsbrunner told anecdotes about They were “like brother and sister” because they worked so ists were slain on live television, their col - Hirsbrunner dabbed his eyes, tried to wave Ward’s practical jokes around the office, closely on the morning shift together, Hurst said. Parker gradu - leagues at a Virginia morning newscast away tears and at one point bent down with including covertly placing candy wrappers on ated from James Madison University and interned at a few sta - returned to the air with memories, tears and a his hands on his knees to gather himself off- the weather desk that Hirsbrunner would see tions, including determination to carry on the victims’ dedica - camera. while delivering his segments. tion to the news. The emotional crescendo of “It’s not easy,” McBroom said during a Hirsbrunner said he found one Thursday: WDBJ. WDBJ-TV’s “Mornin’” show yesterday came break. Parker’s boyfriend and WDBJ anchor “I still have one over there this morning, so Parker was a highly motivated reporter who was described as when two anchors and a weatherman joined Chris Hurst joined them for a short interview. that kind of touches me here.” Concern for being destined to be an anchor. “She was wise beyond her years. hands to mark a moment of silence at 6:45 am, “As soon as we confirmed the news that she the thousands of viewers who saw the shoot - She was just dedicated. She lived and breathed news. You don’t 24 hours after the shooting. had died, I said that it was going to be impor - ing also was apparent. A grief expert find that every day,” said Ashley Talley, who was assistant news “We are approaching a moment that none tant for us to share her story,” he said. appeared for a segment on coping with director at WCTI-TV in New Bern, North Carolina, when she hired of us will ever forget,” said anchor Kim Still, he said he needs some time away tragedy. Dr. Thomas Milam, a psychiatrist at Parker right out of university. Ward was described as a “happy- McBroom, her voice faltering. Pictures of from his anchor role. “You won’t be seeing the Carilion Clinic, said it’s important to go-lucky guy” - even during the early morning hours. “He was the reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam me in my normal position for, who really respect that people grieve in different ways kind of guy you wanted to be around, especially at three in the Ward were displayed while the show went knows how long. But hopefully not too long and give them space. He also said it’s impor - morning,” said Jay Webb, a former meteorologist at WDBJ. silent. On-camera, the team kept their compo - because Alison would want me back,” he tant to comfort children who may have seen On Wednesday, Parker brought in balloons and wine for sure through tears. said. The show featured a series of news coverage or had their schools on lock down. Ward’s fiancee in honor of her departure for a new job. “They “I don’t know how to do the weather on a pieces on the shooting, as well as footage “A lot of people are grieving this morn - were going to have a party for her. This was supposed to be a day like this,” weatherman Leo Hirsbrunner from Ward and Parker’s assignments togeth - ing,” he said. After the two-hour show closed, very happy time for Alison and myself and for Adam and Melissa, said. McBroom told him: “Good job, partner. er. McBroom thanked an anchor and reporter McBroom and Hirsbrunner cried and hugged and now it is just devastated everybody inside,” Hurst said. “I We’re going to get through this together.” from a in Missouri for coming to at length. McBroom then told a visitor, “I think that if she was in your situation, having to cover a story like help. They said that Ward’s family wasn’t hope that you got to know them a little bet - this, she would probably want the people who knew her best to Visible struggle ready to discuss the tragedy publicly, but the ter over the last two hours. That’s all we could go on camera, so I’ll do that for all of you guys, too.” — AP Their struggle was more visible inside the cameraman was warmly remembered by col - do, is share stories.” — AP