News

Updated 2:59 pm EST. See updates at bottom.

WASHINGTON, August 15, 2012 (LifeSiteNews.com) – A security guard is in stable condition after being shot at the Family Research Council headquarters Wednesday in an incident authorities are reportedly treating as domestic terrorism.

FRC spokesperson Darin Miller confirmed the shooting to LifeSiteNews.com late Wednesday morning before releasing a statement from FRC president Tony Perkins.

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“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,” said Perkins.

One local report initially said that another individual was also wounded, but now reports only the injury of the security guard. The guard was reportedly shot in the arm and retained consciousness, while a suspect is in police custody.

Update: Fox News reports that the suspect “made statements regarding their policies, and then opened fire with a gun striking a security guard,” according to one source, and that authorities were treating the attack as a case of domestic terrorism.

Update II: Gwendolyn Crump, communications director for the D.C. Metropolitan Police Department, told LSN that officials responded at 10:45 am to a report of a shooting after a suspect entered the FRC building and was confronted by a security guard in the lobby.

“The suspect opened fire on the security guard, striking the security guard,” said Crump. “The security guard and others assisted in subduing the suspect.” Crump said the guard was listed in stable condition after being taken to a local hospital.

Update III: The guard has been identified as head security guard Leo Johnson. D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier called Johnson a “hero.”

“The security guard here is a hero, as far as I’m concerned. He did his job. The person never made it past the front,” Lanier told reporters.

FBI’s Washington Field Office head James McJunkin said that officials deny knowledge of whether the violence was a reaction against the views of the prominent conservative organization, which has been labeled a “hate group” by leftist organizations for its stance against redefining marriage to include homosexual couples.

Meanwhile, a scene has been painted that suggests an ideological motive: sources told Fox News that the shooter was a young man carrying multiple weapons who told the guard that had been shot, “it was not about you, it was what this place stands for.”