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Museum Shooter's Son Wishes Dad Were Dead

By Harry Kimball,  Newser Staff

Posted Jun 13, 2009 3:26 PM CDT
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(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.

“His views consumed him, and in doing so, not only destroyed his life, but destroyed our family and ruined our lives as well,” Erik von Brunn said. “For a long time, I believed this was our family's cross to bear. Now, it is not only my family's lives that are in shambles." Still, Erik says he had a "decent relationship" with his father and never suspected he would hurt others. "He's 88 years old, for heavens sake."

Erik von Brunn.
Erik von Brunn.   (AP Photo)
James von Brunn.
James von Brunn.   (AP Photo)
A picture of guard Stephen T. Johns, and flowers, are placed near the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.
A picture of guard Stephen T. Johns, and flowers, are placed near the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.   (AP Photo)
People line to enter the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
People line to enter the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.   (AP Photo)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
Altoecko
Jun 14, 2009 7:50 AM CDT
Trust me, I believe in a fair trial(I donated to the ACLU and had a bumper sticker on my old car to prove it) and I believe this man should get one. I just don't think alleged is the right word. Charged with is the proper legal term isn't it? Alleged implies doubt and I see no doubt in this one. Argument of insanity may yet make him come on innocent, but the fact he murdered that poor man has no doubt. Countless eye witnesses and a surveillance tape erase that.
kokuaguy
Jun 14, 2009 2:35 AM CDT
That's another issue, riff. If capital punishment in fact deters then you are correct--executions should be public and perhaps all of us should be required to watch. However, it hasn't been shown to do so in general, and in this case the killer obviously had a death wish and nothing was going to deter him.
riffran
Jun 14, 2009 2:21 AM CDT
i vote for the firing squad

Erik von Brunn's full statement
ABC News

 
crime • Washington DC • murder • Holocaust Museum • white supremacism • James Von Brunn • Stephen Johns • Erik von Brunn

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