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| Accused Holocaust museum shooter dies |
| By hometownannapolis.com |
| Published: 01/07/2010 |
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An 89-year-old white supremacist from the Annapolis area accused of killing a guard last summer at the Washington, D.C. Holocaust museum died yesterday in a federal prison while awaiting trial, authorities said. James von Brunn, who was living with his son on Admiral Drive outside the city at the time of the June 10 shooting, was pronounced dead shortly before 1 p.m. at a prison hospital in Butner, N.C. He had been suffering from chronic congestive heart failure, sepsis and other health problems, said Denise Simmons, a spokeswoman for the federal prison where von Brunn was being held. Officials at the Butner Federal Correctional Complex, which is known for its medical facilities for aging and sick inmates, said in October that chronic medical problems were complicating their psychiatric evaluation of the suspect. According to records released in November by the D.C. Department of Corrections, von Brunn's medical care already had cost the federal government more than $55,000. Von Brunn faced the possibility of the death penalty if convicted of some of the more serious charges against him. A.J. Kramer, von Brunn's federal public defender, called his client's death yesterday "a sad end to a tragic situation," but declined to comment further or provide contact information for von Brunn's son. According to court documents, von Brunn walked up to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum about 12:45 p.m. June 10 with a .22-caliber rifle and shot security guard Stephen T. Johns one time in the chest. Johns, who was black, was opening the door for von Brunn when he was shot. Two other guards returned fire, shooting von Brunn in the face. Most local city and county officials declined to comment yesterday about von Brunn's death. Some area residents and Jewish leaders, however, expressed shock and relief at the news. "It is sad when people die, but it couldn't have happened to a better man," said Chad Speir, who lived downstairs from von Brunn. He said that while he never met von Brunn, he had nothing "politically correct" to say about his former neighbor. "He was a very, very, very bad man," he said. Rabbi Ari Goldstein of Temple Beth Shalom in Arnold said the news of von Brunn's death only made him recall bad memories. "He caused me and our entire community a lot of pain," he said, describing von Brunn as a "lunatic" and a "badge of shame and embarrassment" for the Annapolis area. "I wish his death would be able to atone for the terrible things that he did … but I'm not sure if it can," said Rabbi Philip Pohl of Congregation Kol Shalom outside Annapolis. Officials at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum issued a statement saying their thoughts and prayers remained with Johns' family. "Officer Johns died heroically defending the museum, visitors and staff. This tragedy is a powerful reminder that our cause of fighting hatred remains more urgent than ever," the statement said. One of the two guards who fired back at von Brunn said he had mixed feelings about his death. "I'm shocked. I'm glad he's gone. I wish he had his day in court, but it'll never come," said Harry Weeks of White Plains, Md., one of the museum guards who shot at von Brunn during the attack. Weeks returned to work in August and said he thinks often about his slain colleague. "There's not a day that goes by that I don't miss him," Weeks said of Johns. While von Brunn's son was unreachable yesterday, over the summer he had expressed remorse about what his father did at the museum. "I cannot express enough how deeply sorry I am it was Mr. Johns and not my father who lost (his) life," Erik von Brunn said in a statement to ABC News. "It was unjustified and unfair that he died, and while my condolences could never begin to offer appeasement, they, along with my remorse, is all I have to give. "For the extremists who believe my father is a hero: It is imperative that you understand what he did was an act of cowardice." A history of racism A seven-count indictment against von Brunn charged him with first-degree murder, killing in a federal building and bias-motivated crime. The indictment also accused him of seeking to intimidate Jewish people at the museum. Von Brunn had a racist Web site and wrote a self-published book titled "Kill the Best Gentiles," alleging a Jewish conspiracy "to destroy the white gene pool." He also claimed the Holocaust was a hoax. Read More. |
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