The suspect in the shooting deaths of a southwest Virginia television reporter and photographer “closely identified” with mass murderers and the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorists, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Office said.
Investigators learned this through writings and evidence seized from Vester Flanagan’s apartment.
Flanagan killed himself after the Wednesday slayings of Alison Parker and Adam Ward.
He fired 17 shots at Smith Mountain Lake, the scene of the double homicide, according to the sheriff, and two Glock pistols were recovered from the rental car in which he was found on Interstate 66 in Fauquier County.
Investigators believe Flanagan acted alone and shared his plans with no one, and he left no indication of what his plans were after he fled the shooting scene.
