Three Sandwiches And Three Bottles Of Beer

     From the Virginian-Pilot:

William Rankin came to Norfolk’s Social Security Administration building Monday afternoon with a simple message — “I want my money!” — and a plan to get it, one that involved a handgun, rifle and some 600 rounds of ammunition, according to the FBI.

It appears he was prepared to stay a while: He brought three sandwiches and three bottles of beer. ...

On Thursday, federal prosecutors charged the 44-year-old Rankin with attempted murder of someone helping an employee of the U.S government, assault, having a firearm in a federal facility and being a felon in possession of a firearm. If convicted, Rankin faces 10 years to life in prison, although sentences for federal crimes are usually less than the maximum. ...

It all started a little before 3:30 p.m. Monday, when Rankin entered the Social Security Administration building at 5850 Lake Herbert Drive. Right after he entered with a rifle bag slung over his left shoulder, a security guard approached him. ...

Rankin yelled, “I want my money!”

The guard told Rankin that, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the building was closed; he needed to call the phone number listed on the front door. Rankin clarified he was there because he wanted his mother’s money. The guard said he still needed to call the number listed on the door.

Rankin then pulled a .380 pistol and told the guard he wasn’t leaving without the money. The guard tried to keep Rankin calm. But Rankin became more agitated and demanded the guard unholster his gun and put it on the ground. The guard refused.

So Rankin fired at least five rounds at the security guard, hitting him in the left arm, left shoulder, left leg, right leg, left upper chest and the lower abdomen. A bulletproof vest saved the security guard from the shots to his upper chest and abdomen.

 After firing, Rankin turned and started to move to the front door, at which point the security guard drew his weapon and shot Rankin several times. Even though he’d been shot multiple times, the guard was able to get into an elevator, go to the second floor and tell others he’d been shot and to call 911. He then went back downstairs and watched Rankin until backup arrived. ...

Law enforcement found a 9mm Hi Point rifle and roughly 600 rounds of ammo in his rifle bag, including nine boxes of 9mm and three fully-loaded extended 9mm magazines. Officers searched Rankin’s Chesapeake home and interviewed his wife, who told them about his struggle to get Social Security benefits for his mother. ...