US: Possible plea deal in anti-gay Family Research Council shooting case

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A man who is accused of wounding a security guard at a Christian lobbying group, because he didn’t like its anti-gay policies, may be close to reaching a plea deal.

According to a court document filed on Thursday, Virginia resident Floyd Corkins appears close to agreeing to plead guilty to some of the 10 charges against him.

Corkins could face decades in prison for a shooting on 15 August 2012 at the headquarters of the Family Research Council (FRC).

He had once volunteered at Washington’s gay community centre and is said to have been enraged at FRC’s lobbying efforts against LGBT equality.

Corkins, 28, was arrested at FRC’s office where building manager, Leo Johnson, was shot in the arm but survived the attack.

Court documents showed he was carrying a box of ammunition and 15 Chick-fil-A sandwiches when he entered the lobby of the Family Research Council in downtown Washington.

FRC had been a staunch defender of the fast-food outlet after Chick-fil-A’s president announced his opposition to marriage equality last summer.

Corkins has 10 serious charges filed against him.

However, court documents filed yesterday suggest that the defence and prosecution in the case could be close to agreeing on a plea deal that would involve only a handful of the charges.

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