Son of suspect says museum shooting unforgivable
WASHINGTON — The son of a white supremacist accused of killing a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum said Monday the shooting was unforgivable and he wished his father had died instead.
Erik von Brunn told ABC’s “Good Morning America” that he and his father James didn’t like each other. The interview followed ABC’s release Sunday of comments by the son that his father had long burdened their family with his white supremacist views and that James should have died in the attack.
“I loved my father. But what he did was unforgivable,” Erik von Brunn, 32, said.
James von Brunn, 88, has been charged with first-degree murder in the death of 39-year-old Stephen T. Johns, who was black.
ABC played a short video of Johns’ mother Jacqueline Carter reacting to Erik’s statements about his father.
“I hope that in time his son will be able to forgive his dad and find some peace within his heart also,” Carter said.
In response, Erik von Brunn told ABC, “Forgiveness is very difficult right now.”
“You know, the only bond we had was father and son. We didn’t like each other very much.”
A federal judge is expected to hear a report on James von Brunn’s health at a hearing later Monday in Washington.
Authorities say von Brunn was shot in the face when other museum guards returned fire. He remains hospitalized, and FBI officials have said he is likely to survive.
An FBI spokeswoman said the court has appointed a federal public defender to represent him.
Authorities say von Brunn shot the guard in the chest with a vintage rifle after Johns opened the door for him.
(This version CORRECTS typo in graf 5. )
Related News
White supremacist accused of killing Holocaust museum guard appears in court for 1st timeSeptember 2nd, 2009 Alleged Holocaust museum shooter appears in courtWASHINGTON — A white supremacist charged with killing a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum has appeared in court.
White supremacist accused of shooting, killing Holocaust museum guard faces court hearingSeptember 2nd, 2009 Holocaust museum shooting suspect to face hearingWASHINGTON — A white supremacist charged with killing a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is scheduled to appear in federal court.
Hearing delayed for white supremacist accused of killing Holocaust museum guard in DCJuly 30th, 2009 Hearing in Holocaust museum shooting delayedWASHINGTON — A white supremacist accused of killing a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is scheduled to be arraigned in September.
White supremacist indicted in Holocaust museum shooting; could face death penaltyJuly 29th, 2009 Alleged DC Holocaust museum shooter indictedWASHINGTON — A federal grand jury indicted an elderly white supremacist Wednesday on charges that could earn him the death penalty in the fatal shooting of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
White supremacist indicted in museum shooting; faces possibility of death penaltyJuly 29th, 2009 Death penalty possible in museum shootingWASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has indicted an elderly white supremacist on charges that could earn him the death penalty in the fatal shooting of a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
White supremacist indicted in museum shooting; hate crimes charges added to caseJuly 29th, 2009 White supremacist indicted in museum shootingWASHINGTON — A federal grand jury has indicted the white supremacist accused of fatally shooting a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington.
Suspect in shooting death of Kansas late-term abortion provider Tiller expected to enter pleaJuly 28th, 2009 Suspect in Kan. abortion provider killing in courtWICHITA, Kan.
FBI says child pornography found on computer belonging to Holocaust museum shooting suspectJune 19th, 2009 FBI: Child porn on accused museum shooter computerWASHINGTON — Child pornography was found on a computer belonging to the white supremacist charged with shooting and killing a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the FBI said in court documents.
Judge says accused Holocaust Museum shooter is in no condition to appear in courtJune 16th, 2009 Judge says museum suspect can't appear in courtWASHINGTON — A white supremacist accused of fatally shooting a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is in no condition to appear in court, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Judge: Accused Holocaust Museum shooter can't appear in court for the next weekJune 15th, 2009 Judge: Holocaust Museum suspect can't appearWASHINGTON — A white supremacist accused of fatally shooting a security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum is in no condition to appear in court, a federal judge ruled Monday.
Federal murder charges filed against white supremacist in Holocaust Museum shootingJune 11th, 2009 Murder charges filed in museum shootingWASHINGTON — Authorities are charging an 88-year-old white supremacist with first-degree murder in the shooting death of a guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial and Museum.
DC Mayor Fenty: Authorities spared 'countless' lives during shooting at Holocaust MusemJune 11th, 2009 Fenty: Law enforcement saved many lives at museumWASHINGTON — The mayor of the District of Columbia is proclaiming the capital city still an "open and safe" place to visit for tourists in the wake of the deadly Holocaust Museum shooting. Adrian Fenty, appearing with federal law enforcement officials, praised the efforts of law enforcement officials at a news conference outside the museum, which was closed Thursday.
Obama says he's shocked by shooting at Holocaust museumJune 11th, 2009 Obama shocked by Holocaust shootingWASHINGTON — President Barack Obama says he is shocked by the shooting at the Holocaust museum near the White House. He called it an "outrageous act" and said it "reminds us that we must remain vigilant against anti-Semitism and prejudice in all its forms."
Obama said Wednesday's shooting would not diminish the United States' effort to build a more peaceful and tolerant world.
Holocaust Museum to close for a day in honor of guard who was killed in shootingJune 11th, 2009 Holocaust Museum to close in slain guard's honorWASHINGTON — The U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum will be closed Thursday in tribute to the museum guard who was shot and killed by a gunman.
AP Source: Suspect in shooting at Holocaust Museum is anti-government white supremacistJune 10th, 2009 AP Source: Museum shooting suspect is supremacistWASHINGTON — A law enforcement official says James Von Brunn, an elderly white supremacist, is being investigated as a potential suspect in the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Museum.
Loading ...