Authorities Call FRC Shooting Domestic Terrorism
The Federal Bureau of Investigation is calling a shooting at the Family Research Council‘s Washington, D.C., headquarters an act of domestic terrorism.
A police perimeter is still in place after a gunman walked into the FRC building Wednesday morning and shot a security guard employed by the organization.
Around 2:45 p.m., CBN News was also told via email by someone at the scene that there’s now concern of a suspicious package. It’s unclear where the package is located and whether a bomb squad has been called to the scene.
According to LifeNews, a man posing as an intern shot FRC security guard Leo Johnson.
Anna Maria Hoffman, an FRC staff member, later tweeted “Our security guard Leo got shot in the arm. Please keep him in your prayers.”
“The police are investigating this incident. Our first concern is with our colleague who was shot today. Our concern is for him and his family,” FRC President Tony Perkins said in a statement.
A suspect is in custody and authorities are now investigating motive behind the shooting.
“We don’t know enough yet about him … or mentally what he’s thinking,” said James McJunkin, assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington Field Office.
The Family Research Council is a conservative group that stands for biblical values, including traditional marriage. In the past, the FRC has been listed on the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of “hate groups.”
The National Organization for Marriage responded to the shooting Wednesday, saying, “Today’s attack is the clearest sign we’ve seen that labeling pro-marriage groups as ‘hateful’ must end.”
“For too long national gay rights groups have intentionally marginalized and ostracized pro-marriage groups and individuals by labeling them as ‘hateful’ and ‘bigoted,'” NOM President Brian Brown said.
“Such harmful and dangerous labels deserve no place in our civil society,” he continued.
Republican presidential challenger Mitt Romney also offered his reaction to the shooting.
“I am appalled by the shooting today at the offices of the Family Research Council in our nation’s capital. There is no place for such violence in our society,” Romney said in a statement.
“My prayers go out to the wounded security guard and his family, as well as all the people at the Family Research Council whose sense of security has been shattered by today’s horrific events.”
