Spotsylvania, VA A 58-year-old man has been sentenced to life in prison after pleading guilty to two federal hate crimes. Douglas Wayne Cornett was convicted for shooting two men he believed were illegal immigrants.
U.S. District Judge Roderick C. Young imposed the sentence on Thursday, March 1, 2024. Cornett had also discharged a firearm during a federal crime of violence.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia announced the sentencing on Friday, March 2, 2024. On the night of February 28, Cornett followed a box truck on Interstate 95 and opened fire with a 9 mm handgun.
Witnesses said Cornett began honking at the truck which was driven by “Victim 1.” After the truck pulled off at a gas station, Victim 1 contacted a friend, noted as “Victim 2,” who arrived to ask Cornett why he was being followed.
Cornett asked Victim 1 how long he had been in the United States before pulling out his weapon and firing several rounds. Four bullets struck both victims.
Victim 1 sustained serious injuries and was shot twice in the stomach and once in the arm. Victim 2 was shot in the stomach.
Cornett drove home and informed his roommates of the shooting. He was arrested the following day.
During interrogation, Cornett admitted to the shooting and expressed his anger over illegal immigration. Court documents reveal he had contemplated violence towards undocumented migrants.
Cornett’s previous discussions included fantasies about using military weaponry against migrants. Friends noted he was heavily influenced by cable news related to immigration.
Judge Young’s sentence included life terms for each hate crime and an additional 10 years for the firearms charge.