Conservative groups in the D.C. area are taking extra precautions after the shooting at the Family Research Council in downtown D.C. Wednesday.
The accused gunman -- and his motives -- remains something of a mystery. Floyd Lee Corkins II was arrested for allegedly walking into the Family Research Council headquarters on G Street NW Wednesday and shooting security officer Leo Johnson, stating, "I don't like your politics."
A handwritten sign at his family's home in Herndon reads, "No Trespassing."
The Center, a gay community organization on U Street NW where Corkins volunteered, has been besieged by reporters. A new, handwritten sign there reads, "Closed Thursday and Friday."
Even basic information about Corkins is murky. His Facebook page, which was taken down shortly after he was identified, showed a single “friend.” Officials confirmed Corkins attended George Mason University for two years, but he did not obtain a Master's Degree, as has been reported.
Meanwhile, the odd discovery of 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches in Corkins’ backpack during the incident has prompted wider concerns.
Conservative policy organizations that have weighed in on the same-sex marriage controversy sparked by the fast food chain's president say they have beefed up security. The D.C.-based National Organization for Marriage is among them.
“Obviously we don’t want to reveal those,” said Thomas Peters, of the National Organization for Marriage, “but we’ve had to beef up security and this is not the first time we’ve had threats like this. I think there’s some ownership you have to take for when you don’t give your opponents the benefit of the doubt.”
The hero and victim of that shooting at the Council’s headquarters on G Street NW received a visit from D.C. Mayor Vincent Gray Friday. Gray told Johnson he did a good job in stopping Corkins.
The Family Research Council released a statement on Johnson's condition Friday afternoon, saying, "It will take time, but he will be back with us soon, for which we are all grateful."
