Vester Lee Flanagan
*A man claiming to be Bryce Williams sent ABC News a 23-page fax this morning claiming his fatal shooting of a Virginia reporter and photographer during their live shot, just hours before, was triggered by the racism in the Charleston church shooting.
According to ABC News, Williams had been calling them over the last few weeks, saying he wanted to pitch a story and fax over information. He never said what the story was, but this morning, the fax was found in the machine – almost two hours after he was identified as the suspect.
The fax was time stamped 8:26 a.m. Shortly after 10 a.m., he called ABC News again, and introduced himself as Bryce, but also said his legal name was Vester Lee Flanagan, and that he shot two people this morning. While on the phone, he said authorities are “after me,” and “all over the place.”
He hung up. ABC News contacted the authorities immediately and provided them with the fax. Police identified him as the suspect in the slayings of Alison Parker, 24, and Adam Ward, 27.
Vester Lee Flanagan
In the 23-page document faxed to ABC News, the writer says “MY NAME IS BRYCE WILLIAMS” and his legal name is Vester Lee Flanagan II. He writes what triggered today’s carnage was his reaction to the racism of the Charleston church shooting:
Flanagan wrote:
“Why did I do it? I put down a deposit for a gun on 6/19/15. The Church shooting in Charleston happened on 6/17/15…”
“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them.”
“As for Dylann Roof? You (deleted)! You want a race war (deleted)? BRING IT THEN YOU WHITE …(deleted)!!!” He said Jehovah spoke to him, telling him to act.
Flanagan goes on to quote the Virginia Tech mass killer, Seung Hui Cho, and calls him “his boy.” He expresses admiration for the Columbine High School killers.
“Also, I was influenced by Seung–Hui Cho. That’s my boy right there. He got NEARLY double the amount that Eric Harris and Dylann Klebold got…just sayin.'”
In a rambling letter to the authorities, and family and friends, he writes a lengthly list of grievances. One part is titled, “Suicide Note for Friends and Family.”
He says has suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work, has been attacked by black men and white females and talks about how he was attacked for being a gay, black man.
Flanagan wrote:
“Yes, it will sound like I am angry…I am. And I have every right to be. But when I leave this Earth, the only emotion I want to feel is peace….”
“The church shooting was the tipping point…but my anger has been building steadily…I’ve been a human powder keg for a while…just waiting to go BOOM!!!!”
Vester Lee Flanagan
Flanagan, had previously sued an employer on claims of racism back in 2000. The then 26-year-old filed a lawsuit against his then-employer, the Tallahassee affiliate of NBC. The Tallahassee Democrat published an article on the subject at the time of the lawsuit. Read an except below:
A local television anchor-reporter, slated to lose his job with Tallahassee’s NBC affiliate in two weeks, has filed a racial discrimination suit against the station — alleging that news producers and other managers made offensive remarks about blacks and fired him for complaining about it.
Management of WTWC-TV, Channel 40, said the station was having a “reduction in staff” requiring the firing, but that the company was proud of its diversity record.
Vester Flanagan, who has reported for WTWC-TV since last March, said he and another black employee were referred to as “monkeys” and that a supervisor once told him that “blacks are lazy and do not take advantage of free money” for scholarships and economic opportunities. He said when he cited his own background of nearly seven years in television, going back to internships at San Francisco State University, the supervisor told him he was an “exception.”
Flanagan, 26, said Thursday he was told on Feb. 9 his employment contract will not be renewed after March 15. Since filing suit late last month, he said, “their reaction has been more of arrogance and retaliation — they told me, ‘This is war,’ and there could be no compromise.”
The case was ultimately settled, however, details of the terms are unavailable. After being fired from WDBJ, Vester again filed a complaint, seeking $15,000 in damages. The case was dismissed.
Vester Lee Flanagan reporting on firearm issues for WDBJ
Meanwhile, TMZ dug up old footage of Flanagan reporting on, of all things, gun control.
The footage shows Williams holding a submachine gun in one of the several news clips where he’s reporting on firearm and race issues.
Watch below:
Also…
The New York Daily News is reporting that Flanagan was a former model and “high-paid companion” before he became a reporter.
He tweeted several revealing photos last week showing his glory days during his earlier acting and modeling career.
“Headshot used for getting acting/modeling gigs back when lol,” the 41-year-old wrote on Aug. 20. “And, wasn’t I a cute baby?”
“Hell yeah I’ve been a high paid ‘companion.’ You wish u could too!! Lol,” he said in another tweet.
See the tweeted pics below:
Vester Lee Flanagan
Vester Lee Flanagan
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