WASHINGTON -- A security guard shot on Wednesday morning at the
Family Research Council building is recovering after surgery and the
man suspected of shooting him has been charged. FRC President Tony
Perkins visited Leo Johnson, and had this to say:
"I was at the hospital last night when he came out of surgery shortly before midnight. The surgery went well.
When I told him his actions were heroic in protecting his
colleagues, he told me that he just reacted in the way he thought anyone
at FRC would have responded.
We are very grateful for the outpouring of prayers from literally around the world."
FRC spokesperson J.P. Duffy says the security guard has been on staff for a few years.
The man suspected of shooting Johnson in the lobby has been
identified as Floyd Corkins II of Herndon, Va. A criminal complaint was
filed on Thursday morning in the U.S. District Court of Columbia and
Corkins has been charged with the federal offense of interstate
transportation of a firearm and ammunition, and the District of Columbia
offense of assault with intent to kill while armed.
According to Department of Justice officials, the federal charge carries
up to 10 years imprisonment while the D.C. charge carries up to 30
years imprisonment. They note that the D.C. also carries a
mandatory-minimum term of five years imprisonment.
According to the complaint, surveillance video showed Corkins talking
to Johnson then pulling a gun from his backpack and pointing it at
Johnson. Then Corkins shot at Johnson, hitting him in the arm.
Then, according to the complaint, "After being wounded, Mr. Johnson
moved towards CORKINS, wrestled the firearm away from CORKINS, and
subdued him"
Another security guard then called 9-1-1. After arriving at the scene, FBI agents took Corkins into custody.
According to the complaint, a witness to the incident on Wednesday said that Corkins stated, "I don't like your politics."
FBI agents recovered a loaded Sig Sauer 9mm pistol, along with two
additional magazines loaded with 9mm ammunition, a wallet with Corkin's
Virginia's driver's license and a Metro farecard, and Corkins' backpack
with a box of Federal brand 9mm ammunition, 50 rounds of ammunition and
15 Chick-Fil-A sandwiches.
The complaint shows that during questioning, Corkins said he had parked
his car at the East Falls Church Metro station. Agents were able to find
the car, which had an "open black box resembling a gun box" on the
passenger seat. They found out that the car was registered to Corkins'
parents, who he has been living with recently.
Corkins' parents told agents, according to the complaint, that he has
"strong opinions with respect to those he believes do not treat
homosexuals in a fair manner."
Corkins had been volunteering at a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people.
David Mariner is executive director of The DC Center for the LGBT
Community. He says Corkins had been volunteering at the center for about
the past six months. Mariner describes Corkins as "kind, gentle and
unassuming."
After the shooting, many people have asked: what is the Family
Research Council? According to its website, the FRC "was founded in 1983
with the mission to champion marriage and family as the foundation of
civilization, the seed-bed of virtue, and the well-spring of society."
It advocates repealing no-fault divorce laws and is against same-sex
marriage and abortion.
WUSA