Man who shot Virginia scribe on-air identified with 9/11 attacks

The gunman who killed two Virginia television journalists on air carried out a well-planned assault and identified with mass murderers and <g data-gr-id="13">the September</g> 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, authorities said on Friday. 

The shooter, Vester Flanagan, gave no sign of his destination or next move when he fled after gunning down the journalists from Roanoke station WDBJ7 on Wednesday, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. 

“It is evident that Wednesday morning’s attack was well-planned and premeditated” and Flanagan apparently acted alone, the statement on the shooting investigation said. 

Flanagan, a former station employee, fired 17 rounds from a .40 calibre Glock pistol when he attacked reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward as they were conducting a live interview at Smith Mountain Lake in southwest Virginia, the statement said. 

Flanagan shot himself during a police chase in northern Virginia and died. The woman who was being interviewed was wounded and hospitalised.