Timeline of gunman's employment with WDBJ-TV

What lead up to former reporter's decision to seek revenge

ROANOKE, Va. – During his short tenure as a WDBJ-TV employee, Vester Lee Flanagan's behavior annoyed a lot of people in the newsroom, the station's president said Thursday.

WDBJ-TV employees wore Virginia-Tech burgundy and turquoise ribbons in memory of reporter Alison Parker and photojournalist Adam Ward. Flanagan shot them dead Wednesday. 

"His background check resulted in positive references," President and general manager of WDBJ-TV Jeffrey Marks said during a press conference.

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March 6, 2012

The station hired Flanagan and was paying him a salary of $36,000 -- the equivalent of $17.31 an hour.

May 31, 2012

News director Dan Dennison writes up Flanagan. Dennison warned, "Any further incidents of inappropriate behavior or situational response that is not professional or leaves a co-worker feeling threatened or uncomfortable will lead to more serious disciplinary action up to and including termination of employment."

"Flanagan's job performance and his interaction with his co-workers led his manager to place Flanagan on a succession of performance improvement plans," Marks said. "Only slight improvement was noted each time."

July 30, 2012

Dennison writes up Flanagan again. "Under no circumstances should you engage in harsh language, demonstrate aggressive body language, or lash out at a photographer in front of members of the public," Dennison said in a report.

Aug. 6, 2012

Flanagan's supervisor David Seidel gave him a low score for inability to work with others in his review.

Nov. 9, 2012

Dennison wrote up Flanagan again for wearing an Obama sticker.

Dec. 24, 2012

Dennison accused Flanagan of "poor on-air performance" and "time management issues." Marks said Flanagan's final warning was due to his "failure to check his facts in a news story and, generally, for poor news judgment."

January 2013

Flanagan "accused a photographer of making trouble for him by questioning a decision to go on private property in pursuit of a story," Marks said. "At that point, he raised some concerns with HR of perceived unfairness, which were immediately investigated and found to be without merit."

That same month, anchor-reporter Nadia Singh was asked to review Flanagan's script. Producer Kim Pinckney accuse Flanagan of creating "an uncomfortable situation." Singh said he was "very confrontational" and "defensive."

Feb. 1, 2013

Human resources representative Monica Taylor fired Flanagan, whose response was, "You better call police, because I'm going to make a big stink. This is not right." Taylor called  911.

"Flanagan attempted to reach the corporate CEO, without success," Marks said. "At that point, police arrived and escorted him from the building. On the way out he handed a wooden cross to the news director and said, 'You'll need this.' He also made a derogatory comment to Adam Ward as he left."

March 2014

Flanagan filed a lawsuit against the station alleging that he was a victim of sexual and racial harassment.

"All investigations determined that no reasonable person would have taken any of the cited instances as discrimination or harassment," Marks said.

Marks also said the station "responded that his claims of mistreatment were unfounded and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission denied the claim."

May 26, 2014

"He later filed a civil action in local court in Roanoke," Marks said.

Flanagan sent a letter to Judge Francis Burkart III. "I AM an expert when it comes to integrity, character and the difference between right and wrong ... I will utilize every resource I have to achieve justice," Flagan said in the letter. He also asked for a jury of black women.

July 2014

Judge Francis Burkart III dismissed Flanagan's lawsuit.

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The Associated Press, ABC News and CNN also contributed to this story.