Vester Flanagan, known professionally as Bryce Williams, claims he filed an EEOC report after former WDBJ co-worker Alison Parker made a racist remark. He also claimed that photographer Adam Ward reported him to human resources after they worked together once, according to RT.
The allegations were made in Facebook and Twitter posts by Flanagan after he murdered both Parker and Ward in the middle of a live interview they were conducting on Wednesday, August 26th.
The shooter was fired in was fired from the channel two years ago and had to be escorted from the building. He had developed a reputation as being someone who was difficult to work with.
Flanagan made similar allegations against TV station WTWC-TV in Florida back in 2000.
TMZ reports that Flanagan claimed a producer called him a "monkey," heard a manager tell another black employee to "stop talking ebonics" and said an official at the station joked about a black murder suspect with gold and green grillz, saying he had "collared greens" stuck in his teeth.
The case was settled out of court in 2001.
Flanagan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound earlier today.
MONETA, Va. (AP) — A TV reporter and cameraman were shot to death during a live television interview Wednesday by a gunman who recorded himself carrying out the killings and posted the video on social media after fleeing the scene.
Authorities identified the suspect as a fellow journalist who had been fired from the station earlier this year. A man believed to be the gunman later crashed a vehicle after fleeing a traffic stop, and pursuing troopers found him suffering from a gunshot wound.
The shooter has been identified as Bryce Williams, real name Vester Lee Flanagan II, a former reporter at WDBJ
He was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries, state police said.
The shots rang out on-air as reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward were presenting a local tourism story. Viewers saw her scream and run, and she could be heard saying "Oh my God," as she fell. Ward fell, too, and the camera he had been holding on his shoulder captured a fleeting image of the suspect holding a handgun.
WDBJ quickly switched back to the anchor at the station, her eyes large and jaw dropping as she said, "OK, not sure what happened there." The station later went live again, reporting on their own station and staff as the story developed.
The suspect was identified as Vester Lee Flanagan II, 41, of Roanoke, by the Augusta County Sheriff's Office. Flanagan appeared on WDBJ as Bryce Williams.
Jeffrey Marks, WDBJ's president and general manager, said Flanagan had to be escorted by police out of the station when he was fired. Marks described him as "an unhappy man" and "difficult to work with," always "looking out for people to say things he could take offense to."
"Eventually after many incidents of his anger ... we dismissed him. He did not take that well," Marks explained.
Video posted hours after the shooting on Bryce Williams' Twitter account and Facebook page showed an outstretched arm holding the handgun and firing repeatedly at Parker as she tried to run away.
The shooter appeared to walk up to the victims and stand a few feet away from them while holding the weapon. The three, in the midst of a live TV interview, do not seem to notice the gunman, who doesn't start shooting until Ward points the camera at Parker and her interview subject, Vicki Gardner, who was in stable condition after surgery for her wounds.
Parker is heard screaming and is seen running away as shots are fired. Roughly 15 shots can be heard, including several that were fired after the video goes dark.
Tweets posted on Williams' Twitter account Wednesday described workplace conflicts with both victims. They say Williams filed complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Parker, and that Ward had reported Williams to human resources.
Marks said Williams alleged that other employees made racially tinged comments to him, but said his EEOC claim was dismissed and none of his allegations could be corroborated.
"We think they were fabricated," Marks said.
ABC News reported on its website that the network received a 23-page fax from someone claiming to be Williams. The network said the fax was turned over to authorities, and did not elaborate on its contents.
Both the victims were romantically involved with other employees at the station, according to Parker's boyfriend, WDBJ anchor Chris Hurst. He wrote online that they hadn't shared their relationship publicly but "were very much in love." He said they had just moved in together and wanted to get married. "I am numb," he said.
The shooting happened around 6:45 a.m. at Bridgewater Plaza in Franklin County, as Parker interviewed Gardner about the upcoming 50th anniversary festivities for Smith Mountain Lake, a local tourism destination.
Ward, 27, graduated from Virginia Tech University and was engaged to a producer at the station, Melissa Ott, said WDBJ spokesman Mike Morgan.
"Adam was our go-to guy. He pretty much was available to do anything that we asked," Morgan said. "He did live shots during our morning show for several years."
Adam Ward
Parker had just turned 24 and had joined the station as an intern after attending James Madison University, where she was the editor of the school's newspaper, The Breeze. According to her Facebook page, Parker spent most of her life outside Martinsville, Virginia. She was an avid kayaker and attended community theater events in her spare time.
The station is based in Roanoke, Virginia, and serves the southwest and central part of the state. The shootings happened at a mall just off Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, about 25 miles southeast of Roanoke.
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Ramsey reported from Charleston, West Virginia; Drew reported from Hardy, Virginia.
**UPDATE**
The gunman has died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Roanoke, Virginia reporter Allison Parker, 24, and photographer Adam Ward, 27, were killed Wednesday morning, August 26, when a gunman opened fire on them during a live interview.
Parker was conducting an interview at a water park in Bridgewater Plaza when a man dressed in dark clothing fired eight shots.
The woman being interviewed was also shot. She's currently in surgery at a local hospital.
Schools in the area have been closed
Both Parker and Ward worked for television stationWDBJ7. No motive is known at this time and the gunman is still at large.
A gunman is caught on tape shooting two WDBJ7 employees
Allison Parker and Adam Ward
According to WDBJ7, Adam graduated from Salem High School and Virginia Tech. Alison grew up in Martinsville and attended Patrick Henry Community College and James Madison University.
O.T. Genasis recently sat down with DJ Smallz for an in depth conversation.
He explains that his deal with G-Unit Records was just for one single, talks about still being cool with 50 Cent, getting discovered by Busta Rhymes, signing with Conglomerate and what he's learned from Busta.
Maino spoke candidly with VladTV about his arrest in October 2014 after he was accused of assaulting porn star Mellanie Monroe, and the Brooklyn emcee said he always knew that the case wasn't going to trial.
Speaking more on the situation Maino told us that the original story got more traction than the story about the charges against him being dropped. DJ Vlad then pointed out that negative stories tend to stick around despite the situation getting cleared up, and he pointed to Sidney Starr admitting to VladTV that she lied about hooking up with Chingy. Maino was shocked after hearing the news and he admitted that he also thought that the original rumors were true.
Check out more of what he had to say about his arrest in the clip below.
Tygais caught up in a dispute with his landlord that has at least temporarily gotten him evicted from his Calabasas, California home.
The rapper says he's in the process of buying the house and put down $200,000 as a down payment. In turn he was reportedly told by the owner that he could move in and not pay rent during escrow.
Tyga says the escrow was supposed to close many months ago, but didn't because the seller didn't provide Tyga's bank with info that would allow the loan to be processed.
Here's where things get even more hazy. The landlord doesn't seem to remember any agreement between the two and says Tyga is behind on his rent to the tune of$70,000.
The owner took him to court and on Monday, August 24, a judge sided with him. The rapper was ordered to move out of the home and fork over the $70,000.
Tyga's lawyer, Lee Hutton, told TMZ, "We evidently live in a world where a man's word is no longer your bond."
In advance of his takeover of Howard University on September 3rd, Fat Trel decides to release a new track titled "Off Da Shit" featuring Foams. The song was produced by Yung Lan.
Travis Scottwill be releasing his debut album titledRodeoon September 4th. Check out the standard edition cover up top and the deluxe edition below. Pre-order the album now from iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/nz/album/rodeo/id1031530545.
Ricardo Mayorga and "Sugar" Shane Mosely are all set to fight for a 2nd time on Saturday, August 29. However things almost popped off after Mayorga slapped Shane's girlfriend on the ass at Tuesday's press conference.
The two fighters had to be separated. Things didn't end there though. Shane's girlfriend made him promise he was going to beat his opponent down during the bout and said she would put up $10,000 if Mayorga would tie his hands behind his back and let her punch him in the face for 5 minutes.
Mayorga said he was simply trying to get into Shane's head and it seemed to work. He even offered to pay$25,000to slap his girlfriend's ass once more.
The Diplomats' Capo Jim Jones and 730 Dips recording artist Sen City link up to remix Jeremih and J. Cole's hit record titled "Planes." Take a listen to "About That Life" up top.
Broadway Rich calls of Street Family's Fabolous, Freck Billionaire and Paul Cain for a new track titled "Used 2." Give it a listen up top and let us know what you think in the comment section below.
Alabama native Yelawolf has never hidden his love for the confederate flag. While some look at it as a symbol of racism, others feel it represents Southern pride.
Yela took to Instagram to air out his feelings about recent criticism of the flag. Read what he had to say below.
"Ain't no way I'm letting some ones ignorance tear me from my roots .. you fucking fuck boys can save it with this anti Dixie SHIT !! .. You media succubus in fashion and news are taking full advantage of yourself's business .. Not knowing at all the damage you're creating by giving a false impression of who we are in the South .. We're GOOD PEOPLE !!! .. We love our small towns and we love our folks .. For me and me only I'll tell you like this ... Rip DIME BAG DARRELL !! and Long live PANTERA !! .. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd !!... Long Live Dukes of Hazard . .And mother FUCKER ... The DIXIE WILL NEVER DIE !! ... Do you want Me to mention my black inspirations on the Dixie side .. like Big Gipp who I saw in a full Dixie Flag outfit at Madison Square Garden in 05 ? , or Andre 3000 rocking a Dixie Flag Belt buckle in " Sorry ms Jackson ? " , maybe little Jhon or Pastor Troy who rocked the Dixie Flag in a protest against ignorance ? ... I saw the GROWTH and the POWER !! NOT THE DEMISE !!! And here we have these fucking yuppies from the west coast and world wide jumping on this band wagon .. Who know NOTHING ABOUT US .. Other than the movies and misrepresented news reels they see .. Lied too at school and at home .. Further deepening the injury of social perception .. With this wack ass image of a burning Dixie Flag .... Fuck that !! ... Well I can tell you that a #slumerican will never support you .. We're beyond you all .. More open and way more prepared than you are. DIXIE !!! @savetheconfederateflag #slumerican."
50 Cent brought his Effen Vodka promotional tour to Drais Beach Club Nightclub in Las Vegas on Sunday, August 23rd.
The music icon rocked the crowd with the hit records "What Up Gangsta," "I Get Money," "Big Rich Town" and "Many Men" before being joined on stage by Waka Flocka.
In between swigs of Effen, Waka performed"No Hands"and"Hard In the Paint."Check it out below.
50 Cent "What Up Gangsta," "I Get Money," "Big Rich Town" and "Many Men"
Atlanta rapper and 32 Entertainment member, OJ Da Juiceman, sits down with DJ Smallz and weighs in on the Meek Mill and Drake feud, if ghostwriting allegations make him view Drake's music any differently, and if a reference verse is ok in rap music.
Atlanta Platinum-selling singer and Blu Kolla member, Bobby V, sits down with DJ Smallz and reveals the kind of panties he gets thrown on stage from fans 10 years after entering the music industry, the craziest gift received from a fan, and a recent secret admirer.
Born and raised in the South Bronx, Songlist discovered his love for music at a very young age. He sang along with artists on the radio, hoping to one day acquire the same success. It wasn't until his time at the prestigious Boys Choir of Harlem, did he really begin to own his skills by learning to read and compose music. With his freshly learned skills, and even bigger desire to follow his dreams, Songlist then began performing regularly throughout the 5 boroughs of New York, as well as various places along the east coast. One of Songlist's biggest performance was opening for Tamar braxton. He has now become a featured act at several venues in New York City, performing his underground hits. One of his songs"All That I Need," has gained him enough exposure to land a position on MTV's "Industry Open Mic." While often compared to Ne-Yo, J. Holiday, and R. Kelly, Songlist likes to describe himself as "an individual." Songlist song "You want it" has recently been played on power105.1, and now He's back with his most anticipated remix to "Feel Better" featuring Harlem's own Neek Bucks... This song can be purchased and download on ITunes,Spotify,Amazon,Google play and CD baby..
Shark's City finest get together to present the official video to their anthem, I Da Ni**a. The incredible feedback recieved over the last year from Amir Driver & Flee Kash's latet collab led them to shoot the official video to their squad's anthem.
Everyone thinks they're the hottest, but who's really bold enough to make the declaration & have their whole city back them up? Allow Flee Kash & Amir Driver to let you know who they are in their latest. Check it out!
We think Casey Veggies has got one with his latest release titled "Wonderful" featuring Ty Dolla $ign. The catch song was produced by Hit Boy. Check it out up top and sound off in the comment section below.
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