Burbank woman who went to prom with Vester Flanagan reacts to Virginia shooting

Thursday, August 27, 2015
Vester Flanagan's prom date reacts to Virginia news crew shooting
Lorah Joe says she's sick to her stomach after learning the man she went to prom with is responsible for the fatal shooting of a TV news crew in Virginia.

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) -- A Burbank woman says she's sick to her stomach after learning the man she went to junior prom with, Vester Flanagan, is responsible for the fatal shooting of a WDBJ-TV news crew in Virginia.

In an exclusive interview with ABC7 Eyewitness News, Lorah Joe said that in school, Flanagan was a "shy gentleman."

Lorah Joe of Burbank speaks exclusively to ABC7's Elex Michaelson about going to prom with Virginia news crew shooter Vester Flanagan.

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.

"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.