Authorities Examining Whether Family Research Council Shooting Was Domestic Terrorism

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Updated 2:42PM

WASHINGTON — A man shot a security guard at the headquarters of the conservative Family Research Council on Wednesday morning in downtown Washington, D.C.

The guard was shot in the arm before the shooter was subdued, according to reports.

While Fox News claimed sources said the gunman “expressed disagreement with the conservative group’s policy positions,” two FBI officials cautioned reporters that early eyewitness accounts are often inaccurate and said it was too early to speak to the suspect’s motivation.

The unnamed suspect, described by one witness who saw him in handcuffs as a middle-aged man, is currently in custody and being interviewed by authorities. Officials from the Metropolitan Police Department; the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; and the FBI are on the scene.

Authorities are looking into the suspect’s motivations in order to determine whether to treat the incident as domestic terrorism, FBI spokeswoman Jacqueline Maguire told reporters. If it is not domestic terrorism, the case will likely be handled by MPD (though federal prosecutors in the U.S. Attorney’s would still handle the prosecution).

Best known for its stance against gay marriage and sponsoring the annual Values Voter Summit, the organization was formed by James Dobson in 1981.

Video from an FBI press conference:

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