Virginia’s WDBJ7 TV gunman has been IDd as Lester Flanagan, a “disgruntled” former colleague of the two reporters he shot to death in this morning’s live-news attack at Bridgewater Plaza.
Disrupted video of the event seemed to show an armed male suspect in dark pants and a blue shirt fleeing from the scene after spraying a news crew with bullets, killing two and wounding the woman being interviewed.
Officials have tentatively confirmed the identity of that lone gunman as former station employee Lester Lee Flanagan, 41, and local media outlets state that numerous police agencies are pursuing him on highway 64 outside of Charlottesville.
The age and spelling of the suspected shooter’s surname has not been verified at this time, but he is described as a light-skinned black male about 6-foot-3 and 250lbs, and considered armed and dangerous.
He left the crime scene in a gray 2009 Ford Mustang with Virginia plates WZE-8846. Additional on-location reports are as follows:
1. “In pursuit of suspect. We know who the suspect is. Believe he was disgruntled employee of TV station.”
2. “Currently, there are six law-enforcement vehicles gathered at the Exit 99 on the Highway on 64. Officials not sure if the suspect is east or west of Charlottesville … mostly law-enforcement officers going eastbound on 64.”
3. “There are police officers also stationed at the Fishersville exit watching traffic.”
4. “None of the school divisions are on lockdown at this time.”
Again, the Augusta County Sheriff's Office has confirmed their prime suspect, Lester Flanagan, is still at large and believed to be leading officers on a chase along one of the main highways at this hour.
More updates will be provided by Crime Magazine as they come in.
