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Subscribe to RSSThe gunman was subdued after shooting a security guard in the arm in the offices of the conservative lobbying group. NBC's Brian Williams reports.
Updated at 6:45 p.m. ET: A gunman who shot a security guard Wednesday at the Family Research Council office in Washington, D.C., was carrying a handgun and several additional rounds of ammunition, federal investigators told NBC News.
Washington, D.C., police say the man walked into the headquarters of the conservative Christian lobbying group around 10:45 a.m. When challenged by the security guard, the gunman shot the guard in the arm with a Sig Sauer 9 mm handgun he pulled from a backpack.
The wounded guard, identified as Leo Johnson, wrestled the gun away from the shooter and prevented him from hurting anyone else, police said.
The suspect was then detained by other guards, and both district police and the FBI responded. He was taken into custody by FBI agents. The FBI will have jurisdiction if the incident turns out to be a hate crime.
Kevin Lamarque / Reuters
Members of the FBI enter the Family Research Council office after a shooting Wednesday in Washington, D.C.
See the story at NBCWashington.com
The suspect’s name has not been released, but two law enforcement officials told NBC News he is Floyd Corkins, 28, from nearby Herndon, Va.
Federal officials said the suspect the backpack also contained materials about Chick-fil-A restaurants.
Another official said the suspect bought the gun used in the shooting five days ago.
The FBI said the security guard is being treated in the hospital and "doing OK."
“The security officer here is a hero, as far as I’m concerned,” Metropolitan Police Department Chief Cathy Lanier told NBCWashington.com. “He did his job. The person never made it past farther than the front door.”
An armed man walked into the Washington headquarters of the Family Research Council and shot a security guard, according to authorities. NBCNews.com's Dara Brown reports.
Jacqueline Maguire, FBI Washington Field Office spokeswoman, also called the guard "a hero."
"And he did an excellent job of stopping the gunman from getting any further into the building and from anyone else getting injured or shot by him," she said.
One law enforcement official told NBC News it's fairly clear the Family Research Council was the man's target, though the FBI has yet to specify either a motive or the target of the attack.
The Associated Press reported that Corkins had been volunteering at a community center for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people. Another official told the AP the shooter made a negative reference about the work of the Family Research Council before opening fire.
Tony Perkins of the Family Research Council sent an e-mail to members last month in support of comments by the restaurant chain's president, Dan Cathy, who criticized same-sex marriage.
The comments touched off a public clash. Supporters on "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day" on Aug. 1 flooded the chain's franchises around the country and was countered with "kiss-ins" by same-sex couples at assorted locations Aug. 3.
On its website, the Family Research Council founded in 1983, says it advocates "faith, family and freedom in public policy and public opinion" and other issues. It lobbies against gay rights, abortion and embryonic stem cell research.
In a statement, Family Research Council President Tony Perkins said, "The police are investigating this incident. Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today. Our concern is for him and his family."
Thirty-four gay rights groups issued a joint statement condemning the shooting:
"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."
White House spokesman Jay Carney said the president, who was traveling in Iowa Wednesday, was informed of the shooting shortly after 1 p.m.
"The president expressed his concern for the individual injured in the shooting and his strong belief that this type of violence has no place in our society," Carney said.
Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney said in a statement that he was appalled. "There is no place for such violence in our society," he said. "My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today's horrific events."
This story includes reporting by NBC News' Andrew Mach and The Associated Press.
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Leave a Comment:
It will be interesting to see if Holder goes after the "hate crime" angle. Given his history and his boss, my guess is he won't.
The media hasn't even reported that the 'Batman" killer was associated with an "Occupy" splinter group called "Black Bloc". But then again, Obama's "tool" can't dis on some of his proletarian worker bees can it?
During the Chick Fil A fiasco, they SPECIFICALLY NAMED THAT ORGANIZATION AS A HATE GROUP.
See homosexuals VIEW ANYONE that won't go along with their AGENDA as HATERS. The Souther Poverty Law Center ALSO classified them as a HATE GROUP. They are AN ULTRA LIBERAL ORGANIZATION that promotes the FRINGE like homosexuals, transsexuals, any DEVIANT BEHAVIOR.
This guy was probably insane,it seems of late lots of mentally ill people are on a killing spree most using high powered weapons. Thanks NRA,soon the Wild West II will return thanks to the NRA. The blood of thousands of innocents are on their evil hands, All to make a profit for gun manufactures. Enjoy your "blood" money Gun manufactures. High powered weapons should not be in the publics hands,way too many crazy and irresponsible people have access to these weapons that are used to kill. And I do own weapons,but not high powered ones! No need for those weapons! Of course the "gun" nuts will be dreaming,if they had their way there would be no gun laws of any type!
@TONY...This guy was a liberal extremist, just like the mass murderer in Aurora, CO! ...And, yes, most liberal extremists ARE insane and on some kind of psych meds.
He was not insane. It was another leftist throwing a temper tantrum. Now we have to feed him in jail.
Most extremists are insane no matter what they believe.
Tony -
If you are a warvet, thank you for your service. Now, would you pleas define "high powered weapon?"
i cant stand all those conservatives killing all those Black people in Chicago's murder spree this summer!!
oh wait......................
Since the Family Research Council was attacked....This Proves All Liberals are Dangerous, Violent Killers!
Lol! Respond to this the same way that deranged, hysterical leftwingers would when they think they have a rw connection to a shooting (that almost never pans out).
Time for Martial law. Stop the elections. For .......a while.
It was probably a set up by the RNC to try and win an election that they cannot win. Nobody trust Robme, even tight rights with tea bags adorning their three cornered tin foil hats.
Yeah john. You are right. You figured it out. Have you stopped beating your mom?
Tracy, even more people predicted that Bush would do the same thing. There are always such paranoid people on both sides.
And Hillary is not being serious about anything, if you hadn't noticed.
I think Tracy is a bit paranoid and has murder in mind.
Tthe people who mention the "new" black panthers which are a handful,are no doubt KKK supporters. I bet you cheer these White Supremist groups on,or you might belong to one! Racist scum! White trash! Do you fly a CONfederate flag in your trailer park too?
...Do not sell @TONY any guns!!! ...He sounds like another liberal extremist about to go off the edge!
yes loon cuz the new black panthers dont actually want to kill whitey; they want morons like yo to go out and do it. hate-speech is hate speech. have fun being an idiot; it's your right
Everyone agrees that the "new black panthers" are hateful. All 20 of them.
I'm betting you are into accomplishing that illegally if you thought you could get away with it. Your veiled threats should be reported and so noted.
LJ -
He is one to keep an eye on, but so are Johntho and Tony. Some real borderline cases on here. When you see the KKK behind every dissenting opinion, or see the NBPP as a real threat, there is cause for concern. Course it doesn't help when the media gives the New Black Panther Party 15 minutes over and over agian.
i was chatting with a friend of mine at a local gun shop earlier in the week. we were discussing the coming civil war prior to the 2012 election. i told him i thought it was going to 1st start in the big cities then drift toward the rural areas like our small town. his comment was he can now knock down a buck on the run from 300 yards and taking out some brick throwing looter will be no problem at all. in fact they will probably never even hear the shot. i truly hope you people are ready for what you are trying to start. may not turn out like you plan. no one will protect you.
it sounds like you are the one planning for it and fantasizing about it.
sorry pal..wrong. 63 and retired. did my time in Nam. just a warning for the tough guys. everyone talks big until the shooting starts. oh yea, don't for get to duck. interesting screen name you have.
I don't talk any kind of violence.
Jock says: "I don't talk any kind of violence."
He doesn't. Lighten up people. It is an opinion board, and Jock is waaaay more civil than most.
Hate begets hate. Violence begets violence. Intolerance begets intolerance. Its not rocket science.
If any group feels persecuted, there will be the odd person who is unstable and resorts to violence. The worse the persecution is, the more this will happen. If the persecution is bad enough, even stable people will lash out.
Its no mystery that gay people feel persecuted by Christians. Im actually surprised this hasnt happen more often to be honest. Considering all the vitriol sent their way.
Well atleast no one was killed.
What are you gonna do go shoot all the "homos"? Every last one of them? Some of them fellow veterans?
LOL---all the flaming liberals who have verbally attacked Family Research Council savagely over the past decade, are to blame for the shooting!!!!
Hahahahhahah, using their own Liberal Idiocy against them.
Well, it would depend on how inflammatory the verbal attacks were, but yes, hateful rhetoric never helps.
The only people to blame are the people pulling the trigger wether they be on the right or the left or just plain nutzoid.
I never saw this much outrage when PPH clinics were bombed or so called "abortion" doctors were shot down in cold blood, one in a church no less.
Bill. You stuck your Willie in that fat slut????? I'm ruined.
Studies have proven there are more Conservative mentally ill people in America. Especially the evangelical nut jobs! Crazy in the coconuts! Insane in the membrane! You betcha! Yes lets have these nut jobs locked and loaded!
What studies. I have been dieing to get those numbers. Where can I find that?
Hey! This guy! Arrest him! See, he incited the attack against the religious Family Research Council----"evangelical nutjobs".
Hhahahahahhahahahah. Loony lefties getting a taste of their own medicine.
According to libtards who would love to see all conservatives shot.
Nicole, c'mon now, that's just bs and you know it. Most of us folks right or left, would never condone shooting another person for their political leanings. I have conservative friends and coworkers, I don't want them shot.
Disagree? Sure. Murder? Not so much.
Why are you being this way?
Most of us folks right or left, would never condone shooting another person for their political leanings
Have you read any of the posts on here?
Ya and it's keyboard cow-boying at it's finest.
Lj. The war is coming.
Well according to Tracy, she's chomping at the bit to kill the likes of me.
Ah, more unnamed studies to prove that liberals are saner than conservatives. Uh-huh . . .
Rightwing scum is ruining America! Too bad we couldn't deport all this white,racist trash! Many are imbred! bad,bad genetics for sure!
Trash? Bad genetics? If women would stop letting Democrats knock them up, we'd eliminate the need for welfare and special education overnight.
Tony, could you respond to Hillary above who asked what research you were citing about more conservatives being insane. I would like to have that too.
Actually Nicole, if you do some research you will discover that the red states have the highest welfare roles.
LJ, its no secret that men who lean left have a higher rate of abandoning their children.
Well, I'm off to drink some barium juice for my CT scan tomorrow. To all you conservatives who love to wish ill on libtards, now's your chance, pray for my relapse.
just dont breed ok. good luck
You will probably loose 90% of your body weight and become TRANSPARENT.
Good luck John
Goof luck, Upstate. From a non-affiliated voter who finds many of your posts offensive. I do wish you the best.
Well I see the DC firearms laws (being some of the toughest in the country) didn't stop this shooting. This proves to me that laws alone will not stop shootings by people that should not be allowed to own a gun. I own guns, more than a few. I taught my kids right from wrong at an early age, taught them to respect guns and use them too. Just as my dad did me. Lately I've been trying to teach my grandkids the same values and respect. If everyone did this, and taught discipline along with it we'd all be better off. Spending time with them would also help us find the ones that need mental help I think. Parents should know which ones should never own a firearm and provisions put in place to make it so they can't own or possess one.
You should put yourself in for a medal. All this and then you side with the corporate republicans and would probably vote for a candidate team of Gingrich/Sandusky running on family values. I own guns too, several. But a lot of people own guns that shouldn't. You know that and I know that. The NRA don't care.
...@Johntho sounds like another liberal-psycho-shooter risk.
55&counting -
Good job, my friend. We are in dire need of more people like yourself, and, probably your kids and grand-children also.
Get a grip -
He does bear watching. Seems way to tightly wrapped and disconnected. From his posts, he should not own guns,
So if you don't like chicken sandwiches just smoke a joint folks. don't try to kill people over it.
So the shooter couldn't get married. he tried to get even. I want to hear what his fiance has to say. TMZ, time to roll.
Somehow I think he's going to find a same sex partner in the prison system......
Can you imagine how he's going to explain to his fellow prison inmates why he's incarcerated?
Shooting someone over gay rights?
Cheech and Chong couldn't have written a better skit.......
Massive drought decimating the corn and soy bean crop. Unprecedented spike in gas prices, Middle East tensions rising to all new levels, "Arab Spring" nations moving decidedly Islamist, the hope and change savior on the threshold of defeat, Europe about to collapse, whackos murdering people all over the place...this is shaping-up to be a very interesting winter.
To those in rural areas, stock-up on "the essentials", to those in the urban areas....it was fun while it lasted wasn't it? Bon Chance.
Don't forget about the dead birds falling out of the sky in the Garden State.
you left one out, rockhead - a russian nuclear attack submarine with cruise missiles was just spotted leaving the gulf of mexico, where it had been patrolling undetected for weeks
but no, let's all argue about same-sex marriage and chicken sandwiches lol
The eastern world, it is exploding
Violence flarin', bullets loadin'
You're old enough to kill, but not for votin'
You don't believe in war, but what's that gun you're totin'
And even the Jordan River has bodies floatin'
But you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction.
Don't you understand what I'm tryin' to say
Can't you feel the fears I'm feelin' today?
If the button is pushed, there's no runnin' away
There'll be no one to save, with the world in a grave
[Take a look around ya boy, it's bound to scare ya boy]
And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction.
Yeah, my blood's so mad feels like coagulatin'
I'm sitting here just contemplatin'
I can't twist the truth, it knows no regulation.
Handful of senators don't pass legislation
And marches alone can't bring integration
When human respect is disintegratin'
This whole crazy world is just too frustratin'
And you tell me
Over and over and over again, my friend
Ah, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction.
Think of all the hate there is in Red China
Then take a look around to Selma, Alabama
You may leave here for 4 days in space
But when you return, it's the same old place
The poundin' of the drums, the pride and disgrace
You can bury your dead, but don't leave a trace
Hate your next-door neighbor, but don't forget to say grace
And, tell me over and over and over and over again, my friend
You don't believe
We're on the eve
Of destruction
Mm, no no, you don't believe
We're on the eve
of destruction."
Eve Of Destruction
Artist
Barry McGuire
They found the Red October?
Wow, deathtoamerica, where did you hear that?
They're here!
They're queer!
They'll piss in a glass!
And call it beer!
i heard about it from a buddy of mine who's serving in the military
nbc apparently won't let us post links, but just google "russian sub gulf mexico" and you'll find articles about it from "reputable" news agencies
deathtoamerica......
Yea, but it wasn't a "boomer" armed with nuclear missiles, it was a submarine designed to kill other submarines.
Putin was trying to prove a point, that a nuclear warhead emitting an ECM burst over Kansas City at an altitude just over that of the international space station, could take out the entire North American electrical grid. That's why the US doesn't go into Syria, or Iran.
I discussed this a couple of weeks ago, and many decided to respond by saying it would never happen. But the reason I was discussing it is that, in a way, it was happening. Putin was sending a message about potential Russian responses to US actions.
The delivery time from the Gulf of Mexico launch point to Kansas City is minimal, and no warning would get out before the EMP burst took out the electrical grid. By the time the launch was detected, and went up the chain of command, to late to respond.
Think no electrical, no communications, no refrigeration, no food distribution, no water distribution. The US Navy predicts only 15% to 20% of the population of North America would survive a single airburst.
Hey Homosexuals, you have turned God into your jilted jealous lover, as a result, He will seek to destroy you with fire as hot as the sun! Before it is too late, ask Jesus to save you from Him! From His wrath to come! Jesus is the ONLY ONE who knows how to appease God and remove His indignation that’s upon YOU right now!
(correction ~ “fiery indignation” according to Hebrews 10:27)
A shame your imaginary friend in the sky was powerless to stop the shooting, eh?
LOL.
I just denigrate dumb bigots who use their religion to justify their hate. Most Christians don't share your ignorant and bigoted views, Tracy.
Tracy -
being bigoted against the religious - especially Christians - is the only socially accepted form at this time.
What's ironic is that you nuts whine about uppercase Islamic Sharia law, but you have no problem using our secular government to impose your lowercase Christian sharia law on everybody, including people who aren't members of your cult.
In fact, the FRC hate group says that Muslims shouldn't have freedom of religion in the US.
I for one am getting really sick and tired of seeing this bull@!$%# in the news everyday! A 4 year old shoots him self in the face with a gun, a father kils himslef and his children with a gun, a house of worship, a movie theatre, this right to own guns is bull@!$%#! It gives people the sudden power to think that they have the answer. More and more viloence is erupting becaue idiots with a weapon don't have to think just respond. Damn right I am against everyone owning a gun, hell I am against the damn things period because they are weapons of destruction and they are used far more often against neighbors friends and loved ones than against suspected violent criminals. Ban the damn things for ever!!!!! Kiss my ass NRA! you caused this escalation of violence!!!
Take a zoloft and go to bed. Its not about your feelings.
Yeah, the NRA was the cause of the Norwegian nut that murdered all those kids as well. I would think that "common sense" would lead you to realize that we've managed to produce a large volume of nut jobs these past 30 years. The blame, if it needs to be centralized, should lie on the shoulders of one Dr. Benjamin Spock for totally destroying millenniums of child--rearing knowledge in a single book that was promoted by our whacko media, money grubbing head-shrinkers and self-serving entertainment industry.
Would you feel better if those people used a bomb? Or a knife? Or a Golf club?
Nicole, I think he is on to something. Damndest thing guns kill, and yet the NRA denies it.
Nicole- Are you always like this or are you just blowing off steam?
And how many guns in the USA have never killed? I suppose you think murders will stop with no guns?
Nicole. So do Godless governments. USSR, Peoples Republic of China. Killed by the hundreds of millions. Trying to make the perfect government.
@Common: ...Whiney liberals like you have been doing all the shooting and killing. ...Get a grip!
I don't want a gov to enslave us for our own good. I don't want 20% of Americans to die to form a perfect government. Do you?
@Hillary....those would be the governments that ruled over people who had their firearms taken away by the governments that eventually murdered millions of disarmed citizenry....right?
@Nicole....your lack of mincing words is so absolutely refreshing. Keep at it!
Nicole is me...a pro gun citizen. I am not the anti-gun ranter who made the post. The person who hates guns refers to themself as "commonsense".
common: What did you do to lose YOUR right to have one?
For both of you conservative azzholes. Thats why we vote. Loosing respect for that vote will bring us to civil war. Think about it.
Sorry. Nicole. I guess LJ is the one who hates gun owners and freedom.
Nope not me. I challenge anyone to find any post here or anywhere that implies such a thing. I happen to be in favor of the Second Amendment and I also happen to be liberal. I get the feeling from a few of these posters that I might need to defend myself.
Statistics say alcohol is responsible for more deaths each year then all violent crime. And this comes from a left wing source. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/02/11/alcohol-related-deaths-_n_821900.html
Commonsense. You want to ban alcohol also?
Apparently all of my guns are defective. They've never killed, robbed or even shot at another person!
Slodon; You leave golf clubs out of this.
Trouble -
I share your concern. Soon we will have folks shrieking for the ban of my Titleist R7 assault driver (with interchangeable barrel weights!).
lay off the golf clubs, people!
Seems like we are getting a lot of "Mentally Disturbed" people today.......hmmm lets see...... Van Jones, William Ayers, Eric Holder, Rom Emanual, George Sorus, OWS, Acorn, Joe Biden, 27 Czars, Nancy Pelosi, Harry Reid, Janet Politano, ......WOW.....notice any connection?
The gun laws is not the problem......it is mankind who do not respect life in the womb and outside the womb!! This type of behaviors happens when there is no justice in the land to protect and defend the citizens on main street! The united states cannot build enough prisons or allow the police kill enough citizens to stop this type of behaviors!! When the courts declare the "no warrant law to be legal".........and the bankers to be innocent of stealing homes from citizens.........and the police are declared to be the foot soldiers to protect the UN-Constitutional legislation and legislators...........then it forces "we the people" to defend ourselves!! The fact that the wealthy 1% are protected and main street have to defend themselves is on the rise due to our elected public servants dishonoring and not protecting the Constitution of the United States of America!! As long as there is a war on illegal drugs; while legal drugs are destroying our youth...........there will never be any peace in the United States of America!! Just my thoughts!!
I find it hard to blame politicians when "We the People" are the ones that put them in office. You get what you vote for and apparently the majority prefer to elect career politicians that protect their crony buddies and hand out the free goodies to an ever increasing populace that has neither the skill nor the motivation to do for themselves.
Waterguy -
I almost agree with you. However, the 2-party system does stack the deck. It is nearly impossible to "buy into" an election whthout the backing of one or other super PAC.
This is the result of the Obama Biden campaign of divisiveness and hate. My hunch is that the gunman is a black man. Obama has nothing to run on so he is dividing the country and trying to destroy Mitt Romney and now Paul Ryan. What a disgraceful campaign for a failed presidency.
Where were you when Romney was destroying primary opponents with divisive attack ads?
Oh and Mitt Witt is talking sweet talk about Obama, right. In the old days as opposite they are from each other the first debate would end in a fist fight and my money is on Obama if that happens. Romney is not the everyday friend to every day people, and he is no friend to this country. His lies are hurtful. Yet, he continues, and you endorse him, how many months ago were you against him for the same reasons I am now?
Now Jock, he was rooting for Gov. Perry, or maybe Herman Cain. Nobody liked Romney back then, and if many would admit it they don't like or trust him now. One thing for sure austerity is not the right way. It takes away from the middle class and gives it to the rich without them earning it.
Today's shooting is the Presidents fault? What an incredible assertion. Luke, use the force between your ears.
Everything is the president's fault? Hadn't you heard?
(spoiler alert)
The man in the black armor, he's your father, Luke.......
People please understand one really important thing; Just because a Organization or person says they are Christian does not make them one exspecially in the USA. Now if we were in China or Saudi Arabia that would be very different because of persecution. The only possible way is if they live the values of the Bible,(Hate the sin but LOVE the sinner) we cannot judge non-christians, we are not to be polictical activists, we are intitled to opinions BUT not causing conflict in the polictical or social structure. We are to be exsamples of a way of living that non- Christians would be drawn to or at least curious about in a positive way.
Well said Scott, I have often said that I will worry about how I am going to account for my life when the time comes. I'll let everyone else worry, or not, about theirs.
Bill !!! That's my hamburger. You fat slut.
Now that Obama hates Bill and like wise I can finally unleash some Slick Willy material.
Bill is a sell out. Barack is shunning him. Oprah too.
Hmmmm, more gun play in the news. And we continue to de-evolve.
To many people. We aren't designed to coexist so closely. We are designed to protect our own. This is only the begining. Land is running out of nutrients. Soil is used up. The oceans have lost 90% of normal fish stock. Reality is about to hit the fan.
pfffft, no problemo......we still have Soylent Green......
Amused Muse you didn't have to tell us you were a liberal......your stupid azz comment let us know