A Caroline County man has been sentenced to life in federal prison after pleaded guilty to hate crime charges for shooting two Hispanic men in 2024, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) announced Friday.
Douglas Wayne Cornett, of Ruther Glen, previously admitted to two counts of federal hate crimes—each involving attempted murder—and to discharging a firearm during a federal crime. Although his original plea agreement capped his potential sentence, Cornett later agreed with prosecutors that a life term was warranted.
The Attack
The shooting occurred around 9:30 p.m. on Feb. 28, 2024, at a Sheetz gas station on Mudd Tavern Road in Thornburg. Spotsylvania County deputies arrived to find two Latino men suffering multiple gunshot wounds. Both victims were transported to a trauma center with serious injuries.
Earlier that evening, Cornett had followed one victim—identified as O.G.—into the store. He then asked O.G.’s friend, identified as J.M., how long O.G. had been in the United States. After learning that O.G. had arrived within the past two years, Cornett fired six shots, striking O.G. three times and J.M. once.
Hate-Fueled Motive
Cornett later confessed to deputies that he targeted the victims because of his perception of their national origins. Court documents revealed he harbored deep resentment toward undocumented immigrants and admitted he had fantasized about carrying out similar attacks in the past.
He even asked investigators whether “thoughts” could be criminal and described disturbing fantasies about using military-grade weapons to attack migrants at the border. Notably, neither victim in this case was identified as an undocumented immigrant.
Agreement to Life in Prison
Under Cornett’s original plea deal, he faced no more than 24 years in federal prison. However, federal prosecutors argued that the severity of the hate-motivated attack—and its chilling impact on the local Latino community—justified a life sentence.
Cornett’s defense team ultimately agreed, noting his terminal cancer diagnosis, longstanding untreated mental health issues, and existing state-level life sentences.
“This sentence appropriately reflects the seriousness of Mr. Cornett’s offenses,” his attorneys wrote, adding that a life term ensures he will remain in federal custody for the rest of his life, where he can receive medical care.
Justice Department Response
Federal prosecutors emphasized that hate crimes harm entire communities, not just the direct victims. They said Cornett’s goal was to terrorize Latino immigrants.
“No one in this country should be hunted down and shot at because of who they are or where they come from,” said Harmeet K. Dhillon, Assistant Attorney General of the DOJ’s Civil Rights Division. “This sentence reflects the Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to protecting communities from hate-fueled violence.”
Cornett is now serving life in federal prison.
Leave a Comment