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Man gets 25 years for Family Research Council shooting plot

WASHINGTON — A man who planned a mass shooting at the headquarters of a conservative Christian lobbying group in Washington last year was sentenced on Thursday to 25 years in prison for the plot that injured a security guard.

Floyd Corkins II was carrying 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches and nearly 100 rounds of ammunition during the shooting at the headquarters of the Family Research Council. He later told authorities he planned to kill as many people as possible and to smear the sandwiches in his victims’ faces as a political statement. Chick-fil-A was making headlines at the time because of its president’s opposition to gay marriage, and the Family Research Council also opposes gay marriage.

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During his sentencing hearing, Corkins apologized to the Family Research Council and the security guard he injured.

‘‘I realize resorting to violence to achieve a political end is never OK,’’ he said, adding that he still disagrees with the Family Research Council.

The guard Corkins shot in the arm, Leo Johnson, also attended. He looked Corkins in the eye in court and told him he forgave him, telling Corkins that God had saved both of their lives on the day of the shooting. Johnson, who was unarmed, wrestled the gun away from Corkins and had an opportunity to shoot him but didn’t.

Associated Press