In an exclusive interview with ABC7 Eyewitness News, Lorah Joe said that in school, Flanagan was a "shy gentleman."
Joe said she was shocked to learn Flanagan fatally shot a news reporter and photographer, and injured a third person, sparking ongoing national live coverage of the event and several social media hashtags, including #WDBJ and #VirginiaShooting.
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"It almost feels a bit numbing because you don't think this would ever happen," Joe said. "I knew him as a different person."
Joe says Flanagan never displayed anger problems growing up. She described him as friendly, always laughing and joking around.