Details are emerging about the alleged gunman who murdered WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker and Adam Ward during a live on air segment Wednesday.
NBC's Today obtained footage showing the inside of Vester Flanagan's apartment—the unit was nearly empty, aside from a refrigerator the gunman had covered with photos of himself.
According to authorities, the rental vehicle Flanagan shot himself inside of contained six magazines of ammunition, a to-do list, 17 stamped letters, three license plates, a wig, sunglasses and a shawl. The gunman, a former WDBJ7 employee, later died in a hospital of his self-inflicted wounds.
The co-workers, friends and families of Parker, 24, and Ward, 27, are choosing not to focus on Flanagan; instead, they're celebrating the beloved WDBJ7 reporter and photographer whose lives were unfairly cut short.
In the wake of this tragedy, many close to the victims are now pushing for stricter gun control laws. "This has created a mission for me, and the good that will come of this is that hopefully...we will be able to enact and effect sensible gun control legislation," Alison's father Andy Parker said in an interview with WDBJ7. "This tragedy has struck a chord internationally, and each time something that this happens, it's a news event...but I think it's different this time. I think we finally reached a tipping point. I really do."
Many of you are asking how we're holding up. We're not OK, to be honest. We are just trying to remember the good times. #WeAreWDBJ7
? WDBJ7 (@WDBJ7) August 28, 2015"Alison's life will not be in vain," he vowed.
Our thoughts and prayers continued to be with all those affected by this tragedy. Information about scholarship funds established at Parker and Ward's Alma mater can be found at WDBJ7.com.
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