A security guard was shot this morning at the Family Research Council’s headquarters in Washington, D.C.
Statement from Family Research Council President Tony Perkins regarding the shooting of a security guard at their HQ: http://t.co/BlF3lA9N
— Niels Lesniewski (@nielslesniewski) August 15, 2012
“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.”
Twitchy will continue to monitor this story as it develops.
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https://twitter.com/alliancecmattox/status/235761750170017792
https://twitter.com/AllianceCMattox/status/235764946783305728
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Update:
https://twitter.com/NathanWurtzel/status/235768503263711232
WJLA in Washington is reporting that the police have taken a suspect into custody.
A security guard was shot in in the arm late Wednesday morning inside an office building near the heart of Chinatown in Northwest Washington, police say.
The shooting took place either near or at the offices of the Family Research Council, which is located at 801 G Street, about a block west of the Verizon Center. Police have a suspect in custody.
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ATF also on the scene at Family Research Council shooting pic.twitter.com/pCj9ZfKv
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 15, 2012
FBI's DC Joint Terrorism Task Force also on the scene of Family Research Council shooting.
— Ryan J. Reilly (@ryanjreilly) August 15, 2012
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Update:
The shooter’s motivations may have been political:
"Was shot in the arm by a gunman who sources said expressed disagreement w/ the conservative group's policy positions." http://t.co/Rtoz2oPI
— Heather Marie (@hfearny) August 15, 2012
The suspect “made statements regarding their policies, and then opened fire with a gun striking a security guard,” a source told Fox News.
Authorities were treating the attack as a case of domestic terrorism.
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Update:
https://twitter.com/AllianceCMattox/status/235772134679535618
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Update:
Thankfully, the security guard, Leo Johnson, is all right:
MPD chief: guard who was shot by man in Family Research Council lobby is a hero because he helped wrestle suspect to ground; he'll be OK.
— Matt DelSignore (@mattdelsignore) August 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/katierogers/status/235777759190843393
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According to Fox News, sources say that the suspect is in his twenties and possibly got into the building by posing as an intern.
Unconfirmed, but a source tells me the gunman at the Family Research Council posed as an intern when entering the building.
— Chris Moody (@moody) August 15, 2012
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Sources: initial reports suggest shooter may have had Chick-Fil-A bag with him. But investigation still in initial stages and developing.
— Mike Levine (@MLevineReports) August 15, 2012
Please note: this is unconfirmed.
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The suspect said, "Don't shoot me, it was not about you, it was what this place stands for." #StandWithFRC http://t.co/EwhUS67j
— Phil Kerpen (@kerpen) August 15, 2012
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Update:
Mitt Romney has issued a statement on the shooting.
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The Log Cabin Republicans have issued a statement as well:
Log Cabin Republicans, the nation’s largest gay GOP group, responded to reports of a shooting outside the Family Research Council’s Washington, D.C. office.
LCR executive director R. Clarke Cooper, in a statement released about 2:40 p.m. Aug. 15, said, “As fellow conservatives, Log Cabin Republicans are often in the same room with the Family Research Council. Though we rarely see eye to eye, we absolutely condemn the violence that occurred today.”
Cooper also said, “Keeping in mind that at this time we know little about the shooter or his motives, whatever our political disagreements, in this country, we use ballots, not bullets, to address them. We offer prayers for the injured security guard, his family, and everybody at the FRC building, barely a fifteen minute walk away from Log Cabin Republicans national headquarters. In many ways, this is a reminder that we aren’t so far apart.”
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The scene outside the Family Research Council in DC #frc http://t.co/v204qTdD
— Peter Doocy (@pdoocy) August 15, 2012
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Update:
NBC is now reporting that the suspect was carrying Chick-fil-A promotional materials and food as well as weapons, though the FBI has not yet confirmed.
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23 #LGBT groups issue joint statement condemning shooting at Family Research Council offices in D.C. http://t.co/gDfL65wU #tcot #p2
— Trevor Eade (@iamTrevorEade) August 15, 2012
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Update:
The shooter has been identified as 28-year-old Floyd Corkins of Herndon, Virginia.
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Twitterers and other organizations expressed their support for the victim and FRC employees:
Just read @ewerickson's Twitter feed. He said 2 people shot at the Family Research Council office in DC. Hope all are OK. #thismustend
— rolandsmartin (@rolandsmartin) August 15, 2012
(Note: WJLA initially reported that two people were shot; it now reports that only the security guard was wounded.)
https://twitter.com/JREakin/status/235767262102052864
Incident at FRC Headquarters via @FRCdc http://t.co/OsXkYHPk Our thoughts and prayers are with them
— David Bossie (@David_Bossie) August 15, 2012
Thoughts and prayers are with the Family Research Council after the shooting this morning.
— jen pfluke (@jenpfluke) August 15, 2012
Our thoughts and prayers go out to the victim and his family. Guard shot at Family Research Council @FRCdc @tperkins http://t.co/9Y7DolrO
— MediaResearchCenter (@theMRC) August 15, 2012
Our thoughts are with the Family Research Council.
— Detroit News Opinion (@DetNewsOpinion) August 15, 2012
Shooting at the Family Research Council HQ in DC. Let's pray for Leo, the security guard who was shot.
— Bryan Morrow (@brymorrow) August 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/JosephLGeidel/status/235772830497771520
Shooting at the Family Research Council HQ in DC. Let's pray for Leo, the security guard who was shot.
— Russell Moore (@drmoore) August 15, 2012
The Family Research Council was under attack today and the security guard was shot in the arm. Say a prayer for Leo & everyone there please.
— Peter Shinn (@petershinn) August 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/llondo/status/235764674371678208
We abhor the violence at the Family Research Council today, just blocks from our own office. Our thoughts are with the guard & his family.
— LGBTQ Victory Fund (@VictoryFund) August 15, 2012
Prayers for shooting victims at the Family Research Council.
— Dana Loesch (@DLoesch) August 15, 2012
#Resist44 sends its prayers to all those at the Family Research Council. One of our members works there, she's safe. Thank heaven.
— Rebooting America (@Reboot_USA) August 15, 2012
There's been a shooting at Family Research Council. Please pray for my dear friends.
— toddstarnes (@toddstarnes) August 15, 2012
https://twitter.com/alliegdc/status/235768044633329664
Our thoughts and prayers are with the guard, families, and all who work at the Family Research Council.
— Senator Rand Paul (@RandPaul) August 15, 2012
Heart goes out to @tperkins and FRC, no matter how much we disagree, violence is never a solution.
— Josh Seefried (@JoshSeefried) August 15, 2012
We at Twitchy offer our thoughts and prayers to the Family Research Council.
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Related:
Little or no coverage of FRC shooting on cable news; Updated
Hero: Leo Johnson, the security guard who protected the FRC
‘Real reporters’ at ABC News misidentify the head of FRC
Crickets chirp: No comment from White House about FRC shooting
Unconfirmed reports: Family Research Council shooter carried Chick-fil-A bag, posed as intern
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