Possible signs of Va. gunman's escape plan revealed
Outside the studios for CBS Roanoke affiliate WDBJ-TV, friends and strangers gathered Thursday night at a candlelight vigil to honor the lives of Alison Parker and Adam Ward. Among the mourners was Virginia Attorney General Mark Herring.
As authorities continue their investigation, the community is still trying to cope with the tragedy, CBS News' Jeff Pegues reports.
"We all have daughters and sons, and it could be any of our children," Kathleen Fitzpatrick said.
Parker and Ward were just doing their jobs when Vester Flanagan II fatally ambushed them Wednesday during a live broadcast.
The medical examiner's office in Roanoke office said Friday that Parker's official cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and chest and Ward's cause of death was gunshot wounds to the head and torso. Homicide is listed as the manner of death for both Parker and Ward. The medical examiner's office did not specify how many times Parker and Ward were shot during Wednesday's attack.
The husband of Vicki Gardner, the woman wounded in the attack, said his wife will need about three months to recover. He said she has lost a kidney and part of her colon. As of 6 a.m. Friday, Gardner remains in good condition, a hospital spokesperson said.
There's little sign of the deadly shooting that took place at the Moneta shopping plaza two days ago, other than two floorboards that have been replaced. It reopened to the public Friday.
Court papers say after the shooting Flanagan sent a text message to a friend making a "reference to having done something stupid."
Inside his rented vehicle, police found a Glock pistol, ammunition and a "to do list," the contents of which were not released.
There was also a briefcase with three license plates, a wig, shawl and sunglasses -- a possible sign the former reporter was planning on getting away in disguise.
New images of Flanagan's apartment just blocks from the station reveal an impersonal, sparse interior. There were headshots of himself hanging on the kitchen refrigerator.
Flanagan, who used the name Bryce Williams on air, was fired from WDBJ in 2013.
Station manager Jeff Marks said the reporter was initially ordered to get counseling.
"We made it mandatory that he seek from our employee assistance program," Marks said. "He complied with what we asked him to do."
Flanagan sued for discrimination and wrongful termination. In court papers, the station said Flanagan was let go for "unsatisfactory job performance" and that after being fired he said, "you better call police because I'm going to make a big stink."
As police escorted him out, he put a wooden cross in the news director's hand saying, "you'll need this." Flanagan's case was dismissed.
"That all ended two and a half years ago," Marks said. "We're still at a loss to figure out what happened to him in those two and a half years."
Next week, a memorial service is planned for Adam Ward. In lieu of a funeral, Parker's parents say they plan to hold a celebration of life with close friends and family in honor of their daughter.