Virginia TV Gunman's Sinister Warning To Boss

The disgruntled former TV reporter who shot dead two ex-colleagues live on air in Virginia gave a sinister farewell to his boss as he was fired from his job, the station manager says.

As he was led by police from WDBJ's newsroom two years ago after refusing to leave, Vester Flanagan handed the newsroom director a small wooden cross and said: "You'll need this."

The broadcaster's presenters held hands for a minute's silence during Thursday's Mornin' newscast, 24 hours after Flanagan shot dead reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27.

The 41-year-old, who killed himself after the shooting, sued the station claiming racial discrimination after his February 2013 dismissal for poor performance and a series of arguments with colleagues .

The case was thrown out.

WDBJ General Manager Jeffrey Marks told reporters on Thursday that Flanagan's allegations were found to be "without merit".

As well as placing the cross in Dan Dennison's hand, Flanagan insulted Adam Ward as the cameraman filmed the unpleasant scene.

In May 2013, Flanagan, who was black, sent a letter to a Roanoke district court judge claiming that a watermelon had been placed around the studio to racially taunt him.

"This was not an innocent incident," wrote Flanagan, who joined WDBJ in March 2012.

"The watermelon was placed in a strategic location where it would be visible to newsroom employees."

"Your Honor, I am not the monster here," he added.

Flanagan was carrying extra licence plates, a shawl, wig, sunglasses and a hat when police chased his rental car after the shooting, according to a warrant.

The suspect, who described himself as a "powderkeg" in a rambling fax sent to another broadcaster , turned the gun on himself and ran the Sonic Chevrolet off the road as the police closed in.

Authorities say he also had a Glock pistol with a number of magazines and ammunition as well as a to-do list, though its contents are unclear.

Mr Ward's fiancee said on Thursday her life had been "flipped upside down" by his death.

WDBJ news producer Melissa Ott, who watched the shooting unfold from the control room, posted on her Facebook page: "Getting married, having a family, buying a home.

"That's now taken. I'm not ok. And I won't be for a long time."

The woman who survived the on-air shooting is in a good condition in hospital.

Local chamber of commerce director Vicki Gardner was being interviewed about local tourism by the WDBJ team when Flanagan opened fire.

Ms Gardner's husband also watched in horror as the shooting unfolded on TV, but he was able to speak to her by phone while she was taken to hospital.

Ms Parker's father, Andy Parker, is vowing to fight for gun control in the aftermath of his "hilarious, beautiful and immensely talented" daughter's death.

He said: "How many times are we going to see a crazy person with a gun kill people? And you know, this isn't somebody that's a journalist that's overseas and you know dodging bullets and getting caught by ISIL.

"This was a young lady and a cameraman who were interviewing a Chamber of Commerce person to celebrate the 50th anniversary of a marina.

"So, its you guys now. It is... crazy people are coming after journalists and that's why you guys need to keep this story going and I'm going to do everything I can now to make sure her life has meaning, that people remember her and that we don't have another Newtown, we don't have another movie theatre shooting, that we don't have another Charleston.

"The politicians have got to stand up to the NRA (National Rifle Association) and close some of these loopholes so that crazy people don't get guns."

Flanagan's family has issued a statement offering condolences with "heavy hearts and deep sadness" to the victims' loved ones.

It said: "Words cannot express the hurt that we feel."