ABC Publishes WDBJ Gunman's Manifesto: "I’ve Been a Human Powder Keg For a While"
After shooting a Virginia reporter and her cameraman at point blank this morning, Bryce Williams reportedly faxed ABC News a 23-page manifesto before calling the network to confess his involvement. In portions of the document, which were published today by the network, Williams expresses admiration for other recent mass shootings and claims he was mistreated because he was a gay black man.
According to ABC, Williams—who was pronounced dead at 1:26 p.m.—had repeatedly called the station claiming he had a story for them. But it wasn’t, apparently, until 8:26 a.m. that he actually faxed the information: a 23-page, unhinged, rambling manifesto. Less than two hours later, he called again, this time to identify himself as the shooter. He apparently told whoever answered the phone that the authorities were after him and “all over the place.”
After turning the document over to authorities, ABC published several excerpts, many of which reference other mass murderers like Charleston shooter Dylann Roof, Virginia Tech shooter Seung Hui Chon (“That’s my boy right there”), and Columbine shooters Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold.
In the manifesto, Williams writes that he was “sent over the top” by the racism behind the Charleston shooting, putting a deposit down for a gun just two days later. From ABC News:
In one part of the document, Williams calls it a “Suicide Note for Friends and Family.”
—He says has suffered racial discrimination, sexual harassment and bullying at work.
—He says he has been attacked by black men and white females.
—He talks about how he was attacked for being a gay, black man
“Yes, it will sound like I am angry...I am. And I have every right to be. But when I leave this Earth, the only emotion I want to feel is peace....”
“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 BOOM!!!!”.
Williams, a former multimedia reporter, was apparently well-versed in pitching networks. After suing a Tallahassee station for discrimination in 2000 and losing his job at WDBJ in 2013, he reportedly—and to no avail—sent in applications to CNN and “other news organizations.” It does not appear that his entreaties resulted in any job offers.
