Museum Shooter Charged With Murder

Von Brunn was on suicide mission, prosecutor says

(NEWSER) - James von Brunn planned to die himself when he opened fire at the Holocaust Museum in June, an assault he planned well in advance to spread the word that the Holocaust was a hoax, prosecutors say. Von Brunn, 89, appeared in court for the first time today to answer charges of killing a museum security guard. He spoke little but demanded a quick trial. More»

(NEWSER) - The son of alleged Holocaust Museum killer James von Brunn wishes his father, rather than a "brave" security guard, had died this week, the Washington Post reports. "I cannot express enough how deeply sorry I am" that museum guard Stephen Johns died "and not my father," Erik von Brunn said in a statement. His father, a white supremacist, allegedly gunned down Johns at the museum Wednesday. More»

James von Brunn dead at 89 in prison hospital

(AP) - The 89-year-old man accused of a deadly shooting at the Holocaust museum in Washington has died in a prison hospital, a government official says. James von Brunn reportedly died at a federal complex in Butner, North Carolina. He had been awaiting trial for the killing of security guard Stephen T. Johns at the US Holocaust Memorial Museum on June 10. More»

Museum staff 'more dedicated than ever' after guard's murder

(NEWSER) - The National Holocaust Museum opened its doors again yesterday after a day of mourning for slain security guard Stephen Johns and hundreds of visitors lined up for admission, the Washington Post reports. Visitors, including families and school groups from around the country, spoke of their determination to defy the hatred and intolerance of white supremacist James von Brunn, who has been charged with shooting Johns. More»

Struggling Von Brunn warned people that they wouldn't see him again

(NEWSER) - Acquaintances of James von Brunn say the 88-year-old man who witnesses saw open fire in the Holocaust Memorial Museum had grown increasingly unhappy in recent weeks, reports the Washington Post. One fellow white separatist said von Brunn "was barely making it" after his Social Security payments were cut, which he blamed on "someone in Washington" looking at his white supremacist website. Von Brunn also told readers of his periodic emails that they should expect not to hear from him again. More»