Virginia man admits guilt in hate crime case involving shooting of two Latino men.
A man from Virginia has entered a guilty plea for committing federal hate crimes following a shooting incident that took place in February 2024. The incident involved the shooting of two Latino men at a gas station in Spotsylvania County, as disclosed by prosecutors on Wednesday.
Douglas Wayne Cornett, a 58-year-old resident of Ruther Glen, located just north of Richmond, engaged in a violent act after discovering that one of the victims had recently immigrated to the United States. On the evening of February 28, 2024, Cornett followed a box truck driven by an adult Latino male, identified in legal documents only as O.G., into a Sheetz gas station.
Upon arrival, Cornett questioned another victim, referred to by the initials J.M., who was a friend of O.G., about the duration of his friend’s stay in the country. After learning that O.G. had arrived in the U.S. within the last two years, Cornett took out a handgun and opened fire. He struck O.G. three times and wounded J.M. once. Following the attack, Cornett left the scene, returned home, and subsequently confided in two acquaintances about the shooting, according to court documents reported by local news affiliate WRIC.
The following day, Cornett was apprehended by law enforcement, during which he expressed to a detective that his actions were fueled by “anger at illegal immigration.” He further revealed disturbing thoughts about considering violent actions against undocumented migrants, stating a desire to fly to the U.S. border in a helicopter and fire upon migrants to deter future crossings.
On Wednesday, Cornett faced charges and pleaded guilty to two counts of federal hate crimes involving attempted murder, in addition to one count of discharging a firearm during a federal crime of violence. The gravity of the offenses could lead to significant penalties, with a sentencing scheduled for November 13. Cornett faces a mandatory minimum sentence of 10 years for the firearm charge, alongside the potential for life imprisonment related to the hate crime charges. This case underscores the ongoing tension surrounding immigration issues in the United States and highlights the consequences of violent responses to perceived societal challenges.
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