NYPD's Miller: Gunman In Killings Of Va. Reporter, Cameraman A 'Classic Injustice Collector'

NEW YORK (CBSNewYork/AP) -- The gunman who killed two Virginia journalists on live TV was a "classic injustice collector," the NYPD's deputy police commissioner for intelligence and counterterrorism said Thursday.

Speaking on "CBS This Morning," John Miller said shooter Vester Lee Flanagan II, the former WDBJ-TV reporter known by his on-air name Bryce Williams, showed textbook behaviors in the killings of reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward.

"He exhibited all the classic behaviors, the pathway behaviors, which is all the preparation he went through to do this," Miller said. "He didn't throw this together the day before yesterday. He bought that camera, he practiced with it, he obtained the guns and so on -- the following and stalking behavior, the identification of selective victims."

Miller said "classic injustice collectors" are people who feel they "aren't making it and they're blaming it on everybody else along the way."

"What was his injustice? He viewed himself as a guy who should be here, on network news, and unfortunately he found the most terrible way to get there and to be that lead story," he said.

Hours after the killings Wednesday, ABC News reported it received a 23-page faxed statement from Flanagan using his on-air name Bryce Williams.

In the document, he called himself a gay black man who had been mistreated by people of all races, and said he bought the gun two days after nine black people were killed in a June 17 shooting at a Charleston church. The fax also included admiration for the gunmen in mass killings at places like Virginia Tech and Columbine High School in Colorado.

He described himself as a "human powder keg,'' that was "just waiting to go BOOM!!!!''

Flanagan, 41, who was fired from WDBJ-TV in 2013, was described by the station's president and general manager, Jeffrey Marks, 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 coming to the fore, we dismissed him. He did not take that well,'' Marks said. He recalled that police had to escort Flanagan out of the building because he refused to leave when he was fired.

Tweets posted Wednesday on the gunman's Twitter account, since suspended, described workplace conflicts with both victims. He said he filed a complaint with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission against Parker, and that Ward had reported him to human resources.

Marks said Flanagan alleged that other employees made racially tinged comments to him, but that his EEOC claim was dismissed and none of his allegations could be corroborated.

Court records and recollections from former colleagues at a half-dozen other small-market stations where he bounced around indicate that Flanagan was quick to file complaints. He was fired at least twice after managers said he was causing problems with other employees.

Miller said Wednesday's incident was similar to the case of a former LAPD officer, accused of killing four people, who posted a manifesto on Facebook threatening colleagues whom he blamed for ending his career, CBS News reported.

'A Show Like No Other'

Late Thursday, as CBS2's Matt Kozar reported, a community in mourning gathered at WDBJ to remember Parker and Ward, singing "Amazing Grace."

"We are going to need to work together, because no family and no community should have to feel this kind of pain again," said Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.

Several hours earlier, the grieving staff at WDBJ-TV came together for an emotional broadcast -- their first morning show since Parker and Ward were killed.

The Roanoke, Virginia station began its broadcast with a somber tribute to the two slain journalists. Anchor Kim McBroom, her voice faltering at times, called it "a show like no other.''

"We come to you with heavy hearts," she said. "Two of our own were shot during a live shot yesterday morning.'' She noted the outpouring of support that followed the deaths.

At 6:45 a.m., the time of the shooting, the station observed a moment of silence, showing the victim's photos on the screens.

McBroom, who was on the anchor desk during Wednesday's shooting and tried to reassure viewers immediately after the attack was broadcast, joined hands with weatherman Leo Hirsbrunner and fellow anchor Steve Grant, who came in from sister station KYTV in Springfield, Missouri.

"Joining hands here on the desk. It's the only way to do it,'' she said just before the moment of silence.

During his forecast, Hirsbrunner's voice trembled as he recalled how Ward would check in with him every morning about the weather before going out on assignment.

"I don't even know how to do weather on a day like this,'' he said. McBroom told him: "Good job, partner. We're going to get through this together.''

The morning broadcast included a series of news pieces on the shooting. One looked at the criminal investigation of Flanagan. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound hours after the shooting.

His family released a statement through a representative, expressing condolences for the victims' families and asking for privacy: "Words cannot express the hurt that we feel,'' it read in part.

McBroom couldn't hold back tears as she also read a statement from Parker's family.

The statement from Andy Parker, Alison Parker's father, says: "Our vivacious, ambitious, smart, engaging, hilarious, beautiful and immensely talented Alison was taken from the world. This is senseless, and our family is crushed.''

On-Air Murders

The shootings happened while Parker and Ward were interviewing local economic development official Vicki Gardner.

The video of the incident that was broadcast live shows Parker smiling during the interview when suddenly at least eight shots ring out. Parker screams, runs and can be heard saying, "Oh my God!"

Parker and Ward died at the scene. Gardner was also shot, but emerged from surgery later Wednesday in stable condition.

Flanagan fled the scene but then posted his own 56-second video of the murders on Twitter and Facebook. About three hours after the killing, ABC News reported it received the 23-page faxed statement.

Flanagan later ran off a highway while being pursued hundreds of miles away and was captured; he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

A Regular Team

Parker and Ward were a regular team, working together every morning. Their colleagues say they brought passion to the job daily on both the rough and fun assignments.

Parker was 24, grew up outside Roanoke and treasured her family. She had just moved in with Chris Hurst, her boyfriend of nine months and an anchor at WDBJ-TV.

"She loved what she did and she was going to go so far in this field and was well on her way," Hurst said.

He never imagined she would be in danger during Wednesday's assignment.

"It was a harmless story on the anniversary of this beautiful lake behind me that we have shared some wonderful memories on ourselves," he said.

Following the morning news cast, the WDBJ news team gathered outside of their station wearing turquoise and maroon ribbons -- Parker and Ward's favorite colors -- to honor the provide facts about the shooting and to remember their colleagues, CBS2's Alice Gainer reported.

"Our meteorologist this morning found a candy wrapper while on the air that Adam Ward had always eaten and had left somewhere. And it's those kinds of little things that are just kind of getting to us now," said News Director Kelly Zuber.

Andy Parker has been struggling to cope with the death of his daughter.

"She was so loved by all. My heart is broken," he said. "Her life was cut short. She had so much potential."

He said he talked to his daughter every day and always watched her stories. He said she continually wanted his input.

"She would be texting me right now saying, 'Dad what did you think of my story? You know, what did you think of it?'" he said. "I'm never going to hear that again."

Andy Parker said the deaths of his daughter and Ward have prompted him to push for stricter gun laws.

"It's senseless that her life and Adam's life were taken by a crazy person with a gun," he said. "How many Newtowns are we going to have? How many Sandy Hooks? How many Alisons?"

He said he believes in the Second Amendment, but wants something to change so that guns don't end up in the wrong hands.

"I can promise you and I can promise the American people that I'm not going to rest until something gets done," he said.

During Thursday's newscast, the anchors said Ward's family was too devastated to talk about what happened or give a statement.

Ward was 27 and engaged to Melissa Ott, the morning news producer at the station.

She watched the horrifying scene unfold on live TV while she was in the control room.

"It is bad enough to find out that your fiancee is shot. It's worse to be the producer of the show where that happens live," said Zuber.

Wednesday was Ott's last day working at the CBS affiliate. Ward was planning to follow her to North Carolina.

"He was going to have a couple of interviews in Charlotte yesterday afternoon. They had their whole future planned out. Yesterday was just a very, it was the worst possible day that could have happened, her wedding dress arrived," said anchor McBroom.

#WeStandWithWDBJ

A memorial of flowers and balloons grew overnight outside the station. Online, there has been a show of support and solidarity for the victims.

News crews around the country are using the hashtag #WeStandWithWDBJ and tweeting photos of themselves.

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2015 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

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