Shooting suspect hit with new indictment for ‘terrorism’

A gunman shot a security guard inside the Family Research Council’s headquarters building in August. (Washington Blade file photo by Michael Key)

A federal grand jury on Wednesday issued a new indictment against Floyd Lee Corkins II, the Herndon, Va., man charged in August with shooting a security guard in the lobby of the Family Research Council’s headquarters in Washington.

The indictment charges Corkins with several new offenses, including a D.C. charge of committing an act of terrorism, marking the first time anyone has been charged under the District of Columbia Anti-Terrorism Act of 2002, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.

Known as a “superseding indictment,” the new action incorporates the three previously filed charges against Corkins and adds seven D.C. offenses, the U.S. Attorney’s office says in a statement.

The new charges include one count each of committing an act of terrorism while armed, attempted murder while armed, aggravated assault while armed, second-degree burglary while armed, and three counts of possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.

Corkins, 28, who worked briefly as a volunteer at D.C.’s LGBT Community Center last year, has been held in custody since his arrest by D.C. police and FBI agents on Aug. 15.

A government arrest affidavit says Corkins entered the Family Research Council’s office at 801 G St., N.W., about 10:45 a.m. on Aug. 15 of this year and exchanged words with an unarmed security guard. The affidavit says Corkins pulled out a handgun from his backpack, pointed it at the guard and fired a shot, hitting the guard in the arm.

The guard, who has been hailed by D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray as a hero, wrestled the gun away from Corkins and subdued him despite having been shot. The affidavit and law enforcement officials said Corkins told the guard seconds before firing his gun that he disagreed with the positions of the Family Research Council, which is widely known as a conservative, religious oriented organization that opposes LGBT rights and is a strong opponent of same-sex marriage.

LGBT organizations immediately issued statements condemning Corkins’ action and expressing solidarity and wishes for a speedy recovery for the security guard.

Corkins was scheduled to appear on Friday, Oct. 26, for a status hearing at U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The hearing was scheduled before the new charges were filed.

In its statement announcing the new indictment, the U.S. Attorney’s office says D.C. anti-terrorism law defines an act of terrorism as “an act or actions committed with the intent to ‘intimidate or coerce a significant portion of the civilian population of the District of Columbia or the United States.” The charge carries a possible sentence of 30 years in prison, the statement says.

In August, Corkins pleaded not guilty to the earlier charges against him, which include the federal charge of interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition and the D.C. charges of assault with intent to kill while armed and possession of a firearm during a crime of violence.