Accused Holocaust museum gunman dies in hospital
WASHINGTON
James von Brunn died shortly before 1 p.m. at a local hospital
in Butner, N.C., said Denise Simmons, the spokeswoman for the
federal prison where von Brunn had been held. He had been suffering
from chronic congestive heart failure, sepsis and other health
problems, she said.
Von Brunn, who faced charges that carried the death penalty, had
been receiving medical care for months at the prison complex in
Butner, which is known for its medical facilities for aging and
sick federal inmates. His lawyer, A.J. Kramer, called the death "a
sad end to a tragic situation" and declined to make further
comment.
Authorities say von Brunn carried a rifle as he walked up to the
U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10 and then shot security
guard Stephen T. Johns, who was black, as he opened the door for
von Brunn. He was wounded by gunfire from two other guards.
Officials at the prison hospital had previously said chronic
medical problems had complicated a psychiatric evaluation for the
suspect, who prior to the shooting had written racist and
anti-Semitic screeds on the Internet.
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.
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.
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 book titled "Kill
the Best Gentiles," alleging a Jewish conspiracy "to destroy the
white gene pool." He also claimed the Holocaust was a hoax.