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In an interview with 6ABC, President Obama touched on the tragic shooting of two Roanoke, Virginia journalists Wednesday morning, noting that American-soil shootings are proving to be a bigger issue than terrorism.

In a New America study released earlier this year, numbers revealed there were more attacks in the U.S. from homegrown extremists than Jihadists since Sept. 11, 2001.

“It breaks my heart every time you read about or hear about these kinds of incidents,” Obama said. “What we know, is that the number of people who die from gun-related incidents around this country dwarfs any deaths that happen through terrorism.”

Vester Lee Flanagan, also known as Bryce Williams, shot and killed WDBJ7 reporter Alison Parker, 24, and cameraman Adam Ward, 27, on-air in a painstakingly thought-out plan that involved the former TV reporter recording the shooting himself and posting it on his Twitter and Facebook accounts.

Vicki Gardner, 61, an executive director of the Smith Mountain Lake Regional Chamber of Commerce, was also shot during the broadcast. She is currently in stable condition.

Flanagan, 41, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound after police traced his whereabouts a few hours later. In a 23-page manifesto, Flanagan detailed his plan and related his motive to the tragic Charleston shooting that took place in June, as well as admiration for the gunmen in the Virginia Tech and Columbine shootings.

Meanwhile, George Zimmerman shared his thoughts about the incident on his Twitter page. The 31-year-old who shot and killed Trayvon Martin in 2012 slammed the president for not responding quickly enough.

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He also called the president a “baboon.”

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He even mocked his own actions involving the murder of Trayvon Martin. Zimmerman was acquitted of the shooting after it was determined there was “insufficient evidence” to prosecute him.

SOURCE: 6ABC | VIDEO CREDIT: NDN 

SEE ALSO: 

Everything We Know So Far About Alleged WDBJ Gunman Vester Lee Flanagan, AKA Bryce Williams

 Suspected WDBJ Gunman May Have Been Motivated By Charleston AME Shooting

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President Obama Speaks On Virginia Shooting, George Zimmerman Calls Obama A “Baboon”  was originally published on newsone.com