A 28-year-old volunteer at the LGBT Center in Washington D.C. has been charged with attempted murder in yesterday’s shooting of a security guard at the Family Research Council headquarters, according to the Advocate.
Herndon, Va. resident Floyd Corkins II allegedly shot Leo Johnson, a security guard at FRC headquarters, in the arm. Johnson was able to pin Corkins to the ground until police arrived and took the suspect into custody.
Corkins faces federal and D.C. charges. His is accused of “interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition,” a federal offense, as well as “assault with intent to kill while armed,” according to court papers. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Columbia is prosecuting the case and could seek penalties of 10 years in prison for the federal charge and 30 years for the D.C. charge.
Witnesses reported yesterday that they heard Corkins make statements disagreeing with Family Research Council views against homosexuality. Yesterday, more than 40 LGBT organizations disavowed the violence in an open letter to the media. “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,” the letter read.
The executive director of the D.C. LGBT Center, David Mariner, expressed surprise at Corkin’s alleged attack. “I was shocked to hear that someone who has volunteered with the DC Center could be the cause of such a tragic act of violence. No matter the circumstances, we condemn such violence in the strongest terms possible. We hope for a full and speedy recovery for the victim and our thoughts are with him and his family,” he said in a statement.
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