httpss://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5b4Apurqp2s
One year ago Friday, a local news reporter in Virginia and a photographer were ambushed at point-blank range and killed by a former colleague while on live television.
WDBJ held a moment of silence during their morning newscast Friday.
Parker was interviewing Vicki Gardner, a member of the local chamber of commerce, at about 6:45 a.m. on Aug. 26, 2015, when the gunman opened fired.
Vester Lee Flanagan II later led police on a road chase, before crashing his car.
The former reporter who went by the name Bryce Williams when he worked on-air, later died at a hospital in northern Virginia.
Video posted to Twitter and Facebook of the horrific shooting from the gunman’s perspective showed an outstretched arm holding the handgun and firing repeatedly at Parker as she tried to run away.
“Vester was an unhappy man. He quickly gatd the reputation of someone difficult to work with.” said WDBJ News Director Marks.
“He was sort of looking out for people he could take offense to. After many incidents of his anger coming to the fore, we dismissed him. He didn’t take that well. We had to call police to escort him from the building,” said Marks.
Flanagan had reportedly filed complaints with the Equal Opportunity Commission after he was fired.