Family Research Council, a Christian Organization, was Target of DC Shooting

Family Research Council Shooting Suspect Had 15 Chick-fil-A Sandwiches in Bag, FBI Says

August 16, 2012

The Lookout - Floyd Lee Corkins II, the suspect in Wednesday's shooting ‏at the Washington, D.C., headquarters of the Family Research Council, was carrying 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches in a bag when he opened fire, according to the criminal complaint filed by the Justice Department on Thursday.

Corkins, 28, of Herndon, Va., was charged with "interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition"—a federal offense—along with the "intent to kill while armed." The offenses carry a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison for transportation of a weapon, and 30 years for intent to kill. Corkins is expected to make an initial court appearance later Thursday.

According to the FBI affidavit, Corkins' parents said their son "has strong opinions with respect to those he believes do not treat homosexuals in a fair manner." According to The Associated Press, Corkins "had been volunteering recently at a community center for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people."

Corkins legally purchased the handgun he used in the shooting—a Sig Sauer 9mm pistol—in Virginia last week, the FBI said.

A spokesman for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department said Corkins entered the lobby of the FRC building in downtown Washington at 10:45 a.m. Wednesday. He was confronted by a security guard and opened fire.

The guard, Leo Johnson, was shot in the left arm, police said. Corkins was tackled and then taken into custody. Johnson was taken to a local hospital and is expected to make a full recovery, an FRC spokesman said.

"As far as I'm concerned, the security officer here is a hero," Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy Lanier said Wednesday.

The FBI said it found Corkins with "two additional magazines loaded with ammunition and an additional box of 50 rounds of ammunition," according to Talking Points Memo.

The Family Research Council is a Christian organization and conservative lobbying group that "promotes the traditional family unit and the Judeo-Christian value system." Its motto is "advancing faith, family and freedom." The group, which was founded in 1981, opposes abortion and gay marriage.

Chick-fil-A's president sparked a controversy after his public comments against same-sex marriage were published in July.

"Federal authorities say [Corkins] told a guard at the Family Research Council, 'I don't like your politics,'" the AP said.

Several Washington-based conservative groups tightened security in the wake of Wednesday's shooting.

The leaders of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender organizations released a joint statement condemning the shooter's actions.

"The motivation and circumstances behind today's tragedy are still unknown," the statement read, "but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence."

The FRC shooting came a little more than a week after seven people, including the gunman, were killed in a mass shooting at a Sikh temple in Oak Creek, Wis.