MONETA, Va. -- A suspect in the deadly shooting of a television reporter and cameraman during a live report Wednesday morning shot himself and later died at a Virginia hospital, authorities said. Virginia State Police Sgt. Rick Garletts said that the suspect, identified as Vester Lee Flanagan II, 41, died at approximately 1:30 p.m. of a self-inflicted gunshot wound
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The suspect opened fire on WDBJ7 photographer Adam Ward and WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker around 6:45 a.m. during a live broadcast at Bridgewater Plaza, which is on Smith Mountain Lake. Vicki Gardner of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce was also injured in the shooting. She had surgery and is recovering.
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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 Gardner
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Things are really starting to get dangerous nowadays. Scary scary isn't it?? Please stay safe, fellow Dollars ( /•~•)/

Something big is about to happen. You can already tell that from the sings.

>>2 signs*
And i feel the same like something bad is waiting for everyone in september maybe on the blood moon

Another gun incident ... I don't understand why you can still buy weapons in the US ... That's certainly why I don't want to come live in this country, it scares me.

Do you guys have any ideas why the idea of "buying guns" stills popular ?

link or it didn't happen

>>4 Well people don't sell guns so you can kill people. That would just be stupid lol. People sell guns and other weapons mainly for hunting down animals . Although people are just cray cray nowadays and decided to use their weapons or firearms for violence. I don't really know how it's popular in any way but probably for hunting animals who knows~!!

>>5 OP didn't post one but it was also on the UK news channels.

copy and past link -
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34074427

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-34070035

>>7 In canada, weapons are sell for hunting, I agree, but in USA, it looks like people are buying guns to "protect themselves". It's easy to get one too.

i heard about this on the radio this morning why would he do that scary world :(

>>9 It's a deeply rooted cultural thing that stretches back to the very foundation of the United States.

Not much beyond that really, it's a right that's been gauranteed under the 2nd amendment for decades upon decades and many americans don't want that to change. They believe that the good that comes from them outways the bad, and the majority do actually get guns for protection.

Though with the ease they are available at, of course nutcases are gonna get their hands on them. It's terribly tragic, but that's just how the country works, until someone changes that.

>>9 Woah. How is it easy to get guns? Don't people have to have a license to buy a gun? Plus you have to be at a certain age to even get license right? In my area, we have to have a license for guns if you want to buy. How is it easy to get guns in your area? Scary scary ( / •^•)/

I saw this yesterday its horrible how this happen

R.I.P reporters only trying to do their job to get money:'(

>>5 I know I have to put a link but I don't really see the point of it. I mean sure this maybe fake to you without a link, but I CAN REALLY COME UP WITH A FAKE NEWS FOR THIS SO WORTH IT. That was sarcasm btw. Well if your so desperate if the story is fake or not here's the link :\
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/wbdj-live-tv-shooting-reporter-817831

On the news it said that the gunman did the shootings because he thought it was a "race war" and that he was fired due to racism. So he killed some innocent reporters, seemingly because they were white.

>>16

He emailed them saying he was wanting start a race war, or at least thats what some news reports claimed. Apparently, the shooter had also had past problems with the cameraman and the reporter had gotten a promotion he wanted or something along those lines. His whole mindset was similar to the kind you would find in a novel or movie.

As a journalist myself, this did not strike me as anything linked directly to journalistic ethics and policies. It seemed like the actions of one begrudged, crazed individual who had his own motives, rather than acting as a proxy or soldier for some previously looked-over cause against journalism today. I don't think he did it to spite the system, or to silence free press. I think he murdered people out of passion, out of hate. They weren't killed because of the journalistic nature of their jobs; they were killed because they held jobs under the same company that fired the shooter, amongst other potential reasons.

Basically, I do not feel threatened because of my status as a journalist because I do not feel like there is some force out there in America systematically killing journalists. This was not an attack on an established symbol of the free world. We will keep doing our jobs, we will keep covering the happenings around us, and we will not be stayed because of one man's personal vendetta.