Sentencing of Family Research Council Shooter Moved to July

Prosecutors want Floyd Corkins II to spend 45 years in prison

The Virginia man who shot a security guard at the Family Research Council headquarters last year while carrying a backpack full of Chick-fil-A sandwiches is now expected to be sentenced in July.

A judge Monday scheduled sentencing for Floyd Corkins II for July 15. There had been expectations the sentencing could come today. 

Prosecutors want Corkins to spend 45 years in prison. Corkins pleaded guilty in February to shooting Leo Johnson, who was filling in as a security guard on Aug. 15.

Surveillance video that day shows Johnson wrestling with Corkins right before Johnson was shot in the arm. Johnson managed to get the gun from Corkins, and has been hailed as a hero for preventing others from being hurt.

Corkins pleaded guilty to three charges against him: interstate transportation of a firearm and ammunition, assault with intent to kill while armed and committing an act of terrorism while armed.

The terrorism charge is based on a fact Corkins acknowledged in a plea agreement: that he wanted to kill as many people as possible at the Family Research Council because he thought the organization is anti-gay.

According to the plea agreement, Corkins told FBI agents after the shooting that he wanted to smear the 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches that he was carrying on the faces of victims to “make a statement against the people who work in that building... and with their stance against gay rights and Chick-fil-A,” The Associated Press reported.

Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy had spoken out against gay marriage at the time.

Sentencing guidelines recommended a maximum of 10 years on the first count and up to 15 years on the two other counts.

Corkins also acknowledged in his plea agreement that he considered making a bomb, but didn't have the patience to do it.

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