Charges Filed Against Shooting Suspect

Courtesy of Think Stock

The Family Research Council may be best known as an anti-gay group intent on advancing faith-based agendas in government (like banning gay marriage and endorsing reparative therapy – or “praying the gay away”). But this week, a lone gunman entered the group’s headquarters in Herndon, Va., and opened fire.

Floyd Corkins was officially charged with the crime yesterday after being accused of having made comments about the organization’s anti-gay agenda. A security guard was shot and treated at a local hospital while the suspect was held overnight in jail. No others were injured.

According to the latest reports, the alleged gunman had been a volunteer at the nearby D.C. Center for the LGBT Community in Washington D.C., where the executive director described him as “kind.”

“The defendant was charged with the federal offense of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, along with the District of Columbia offense of assault with intent to kill while armed,” according to the report filed by the U.S. District Court for D.C. “The offenses carry the following maximum penalties: 10 years imprisonment on the federal offense and 30 years imprisonment on the District of Columbia offense.” The District of Columbia offense also carries a mandatory-minimum term offive years imprisonment.

In a joint statement, several leading LGBT groups, including SAGE, Freedom to Work and Truth Wins Out, condemned the shooting, saying:

“We were saddened to hear news of the shooting this morning at the offices of the Family Research Council. Our hearts go out to the shooting victim, his family, and his co-workers. The motivation and circumstances behind today’s tragedy are still unknown, but regardless of what emerges as the reason for this shooting, we utterly reject and condemn such violence. We wish for a swift and complete recovery for the victim of this terrible incident.”