Epigraph:
Whoever kills an innocent person, it would be as if he or she has triggered a genocide. (Al Quran 5:33)
WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward
In his 23-page fax to ABC News, Vester Flanagan wrote that the racism behind the Charleston church shooting prompted him to gun down WDBJ reporter Alison Parker and cameraman Adam Ward on Wednesday Morning.
In the fax, the write says “MY NAME IS BRYCE WILLIAMS” and added that his legal name is Vester Lee Flanagan II.
“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..,” ABC reported.
PHOTOS: Alison Parker & Adam Ward in happier times
“What sent me over the top was the church shooting. And my hollow point bullets have the victims’ initials on them,” he added, ABC reported.
It is unclear whose initials Mr. Flanagan is referring to.
He added that Jehovah spoke to him after the Charleston shooting, telling him to act.
SEE ALSO: Vester Lee Flanagan posted video of Alison Parker, Adam Ward shooting
“As for Dylann Roof? You [expletive]! You want a race war [expletive]? BRING IT THEN YOU WHITE …[expletive]!!!” He wrote in the fax, referring to the white shooter who gunned down nine black churchgoers in Charleston in June, ABC reported.
Calling it his “Suicide Note for Friends and Family,” Mr. Flanagan wrote that he had suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work and that he wanted to feel peace when he left the world.
“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 and BOOM!!!” he wrote, ABC reported.
Mr. Flanagan allegedly shot and killed Ms. Parker and Mr. Ward while they were filming a live broadcast from Bridgewater Plaza near Smith Mountain Lake in Moneta, Virginia. A woman being interviewed, Vicki Gardner, executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce was injured.
Mr. Flanagan was chased by police and later shot himself and died in the hospital.
Additional Reading
All Terrorists are Muslims…Except the 94% that Aren’t
The Muslim Times’ Collection on Islam’s Condemnation of Terrorism
Categories: Americas, Counter Terrorism, Racism, Terrorism, The Muslim Times
Every human life is precious and of infinite value, our sympathies for the family of Parker and Ward.