Adam Ward, the photojournalist shot dead on live TV yesterday morning, alongside TV reporter Alison Parker, may have filmed killer Vester Flanangan as he was fired from their TV station in 2013.
Vester, who shot and killed three people yesterday including himself, worked at WDBJ alongside Adam and Alsion for two years, but was eventually fired due to his poor performance and aggressive behavior. He had to be escorted from the building by police after refusing to leave, an incident which Ward allegedly filmed. After the killing yesterday, Vester released a rambling manifesto-cum-suicide note, in which he blamed racial discrimination, as well as Charleston chu
rch killings, for his at
tack.
In a 23-page manifesto-cum-suicide note to a national news station, he said he has faced both racial and sexual discrimination as a black, gay man and that he was just waiting to explode. He previously sued another station over allegations of race discrimination, claiming that a producer called him a 'monkey' in 1999.Yesterday Flanagan had tweeted that he was angry at Ward for reporting him to HR when the pair had only worked together once, but these new reports suggest another possible motive for the slaying.
rch killings, for his attack.In a 23-page manifesto-cum-suicide note to a national news station, he said he has faced both racial and sexual discrimination as a black, gay man and that he was just waiting to explode. He previously sued another station over allegations of race discrimination, claiming that a producer called him a 'monkey' in 1999.Yesterday Flanagan had tweeted that he was angry at Ward for reporting him to HR when the pair had only worked together once, but these new reports suggest another possible motive for the slaying.
According to the Huffington Post, Flanagan saw Ward making a video when he was fired and escorted from the office building in 2013, and told him to 'lose your big gut' and then flipped off the camera.
Court documents uncovered by the news site reveal that Flanagan is a graduate of San Fransisco State with a 3.7 average, and was hired in 2012 as an 'editorial assistant/general news reporter' on a salary of $36,000 per year. He was also associated with the National Association of Black Journalists.
However, the documents show he quickly fell foul of his employers, and after being fired the following year he tried to sue the company for $25,000, saying he had been discriminated against and sexually harassed for being gay.
He claimed watermelon was left in 'strategic' locations around the office for him to see and that other offensive comments were made in his presence.
He also tried to subpeona the personal records of around a dozen employees, including Parker and Ward, though his request was denied. The whole lawsuit was eventually thrown out for lack of evidence.
The new information has emerged as Flanagan's relatives apologized to families of the victims, saying his actions are 'a shock to everyone'.
Amber Bowen, who went to high school with Flanagan, read a statement from the family. She said: 'It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness we express our deepest condolences to the families of Alison Parker and Adam Ward.'
Fighting back tears behind her sunglasses she continued: 'We are praying for the recovery of Vicki Gardner. Our thoughts and prayers at this time are with the victims family and the WDBJ television station family.'
In an earlier statement to KRON the family said: 'Words cannot express the hurt that we feel for the victims. Our family is asking that the media respect our privacy.'
Source: Mail Online..
No comments:
Post a Comment