City Desk

Posts Tagged ‘Holocaust shooting’

James Von Brunn: Into Jesus, Hitler, Child Porn

In a Washington Post story filed this afternoon, Holocaust Museum shooter James W. Von Brunn was apparently more than just a racist hater d-bag. He was also into kiddie porn. Law enforcement types found the porn on a computer Von Brunn used in the Annapolis apartment he shared with his son and son's fiancee.

The new discovery was filed in D.C. Superior Court U.S. District Court as part of the on-going murder case against Von Brunn.

Read More "James Von Brunn: Into Jesus, Hitler, Child Porn" »

James Von Brunn: Big On New Media, Scary As A Roommate

Today, the Washington Post reported that the arraignment for alleged Holocaust Museum shooter James Wenneker Von Brunn has been postponed. The reason for the delay was obvious: Von Brunn remains hospitalized trying to recover from being shot in the face. But the court documents---obtained by City Desk and everyone else---still provide a few details concerning Von Brunn.

Really just two details emerge: He was big on the self pimp even within the rantings he left inside his shitty car. And he probably wasn't the best roommate.

Read More "James Von Brunn: Big On New Media, Scary As A Roommate" »

Liveblog: Holocaust Museum Shooting Press Conference

Mayor Adrian M. Fenty is scheduled to convene a press conference with local and federal law enforcement officials at 11 a.m. It's already about 15 minutes overdue; but we're ready whenever they get started.

11:30: Seriously, WTF Fenty? What is the holdup here?

11:47: Fenty begins by offering condolences to the Johns family.

11:48: Fenty confirms shooter is James von Brunn. He thanks guards: "Their efforts to bring this gunman down to quickly literally saved the lives of countless people."

11:49: Von Brunn will be charged, Fenty says. MPD, FBI "are following up on several leads." ADL is in attendance.

11:50: "We will get past this...The District remains an open, safe city for tourists and visitors."

Read More "Liveblog: Holocaust Museum Shooting Press Conference" »

Remembering Stephen Tyrone Johns

Two days ago, District residents expressed out their anger/disbelief/outrage over the U.S. Park Police shooting of Trey Joyner. Yesterday, everyone kept refreshing Twitter, the Post, We Love DC, whoever for news about the tragedy that had unfolded at the Holocaust Museum when a racist-old-man from Annapolis named James Von Brunn opened fire.

By tonight, I admit I had basically moved on. I ate dinner. I watched bad TV. I listened to this awesome new Fiery Furnaces song.

Then I stumbled on the Facebook page dedicated to the slain security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns. There will be some other tragedy today, tomorrow or this weekend. Yesterday morning, a woman died in a fire in NE. At around 5 p.m. yesterday, two people were shot at 1st and M Street NW. It didn't take long for people to add their crazy shit to the list of crazy shit everyone gets outraged over.

But before you get outraged over the next big thing. Please read the pages devoted to Stephen Tyrone Johns.

Here's a sample:

"Im pretty sure he was the same guard who welcomed me after I picked up my cell phone from the security check today...looked like he was a good man. I will miss that welcome dearly. The other man who was working with him eariler also helped me get out of the second floor after the shooting. I am glad he was still around to help me evacute."

Read More "Remembering Stephen Tyrone Johns" »

Holocaust Museum Security Guard Has Died

The Associated Press is reporting that the Holocaust Memorial Museum guard shot today by a gunman has died at George Washington University Hospital.

He has been identified as Stephen Tyrone Johns, and had worked at the museum for six years.

UPDATE, 5:10 P.M.: The museum has posted a statement on its Web site: "There are no words to express our grief and shock over today’s events at the Museum, which took the life of Officer Stephen Tyrone Johns. Officer Johns, who died heroically in the line of duty, served on the Museum’s security staff for six years. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Officer Johns’s family. We have made the decision to close the Museum Thursday, June 11, in honor of Officer Johns and our flags will be flown at half mast in his memory."

Breaking: Fenty Press Conference on Holocaust Museum Shooting

At around 2:45 p.m., Mayor Adrian Fenty convened a short press conference on the Holocaust Museum shooting. Fenty confirmed that a single shooter entered the main entrance to the Holocaust Museum and immediately opened fire. A security guard returned fire. The gunman was hit. The gunman, who has not been identified officially, has been taken to G.W. Hospital and is in critical condition.

The security guard who was shot is said to be in "grave condition." He has not been identified.

D.C. Police Chief Cathy Lanier says all information is preliminary but she described the shooter as "what appears to be a lone gunman."

Read More "Breaking: Fenty Press Conference on Holocaust Museum Shooting" »

Shooting At Holocaust Museum; Alleged Perp James Von Brunn Had Criminal Record

5:28 p.m. Update: Von Brunn appears to be the classic drifter with stops in New York City, Maryland, Florida, California, New Hampshire and back to Maryland. NY Daily News interviews his ex-wife: "'He used to make the statement that he was going out with his boots on,' she said."

"Because of the arson attack in California, we were afraid for the baby's safety -- and our own. We bought a house near Hanover, NH. I acquired a real estate broker's shingle. I listed several commercial properties including a Holiday Inn, and some prime acreage. Again, money was tight. Brokers were folding their tents. I supplemented my income by free-lancing layouts for local advertisers and an ad agency there. I sold two oils at a Dartmouth exhibit; another was stolen. In the evening I used Dartmouth library to research the Federal Reserve System. I met a conservative professor of Economics and knew I was on to something after learning the FED was a private corporation. Unable to earn a living, I was now on the run.

My wife, despairing of my unprofitable obsession, wanted to return to Maryland, which we had fled 10 years earlier. In Maryland I placed my R-E brokers license with Coldwell Banker, in Annapolis. Brokers in Maryland also were falling like autumn leaves. I set a record for listings, but interest rates discouraged buyers. Banks were foreclosing, repossessing valuable properties for a song. I attended a real-estate brokers' meeting in D.C. Paul Volcker, FED Chairman, was keynote speaker. One of his memorable remarks to the large nervous audience was: "You guys are going to hate me because tomorrow I'm going to bankrupt you." Sure enough, there followed a repeat of the Florida fiasco. Prime-rate was raised and America was plunged into an even deeper depression. 'Kill the Best Gentiles !'"

4:30 p.m. Update: City Desk just obtained the police report filed in Superior Court from Von Brunn's kidnapping case. It reads:

"On 12-7-81, [unreadable] at approximately 1155 hours the defendant entered the Federal Reserve Board located at 20th and C St. NW, went to the second floor of that location and was confronted by W-1 [witness one], who is employed at that location as a security guard. The defendant then placed a .38 Smith and Wesson, five shot revolver in W-1's stomach. W-1 [called]  other security personnel for assistance and the defendant was eventually disarmed."

The police account goes on to state:

"Also confiscated from the defendant were a Remington 12 gauge shotgun, which he had concealed under his coat, a hunting knife, and a camera case which the defendant advised contained a bomb. Only books were found in the camera case.

Members of the Metropolitan Police Department were summoned and the defendant was subsequently arrested.

After being advised of the miranda warning the defendant gave a written statement (See PD 118) advising that his actions were politically motivated and that he intended to take the chairman of the Federal Reserve Board and its members hostage in order to allow to voice his opinions over the media."

The police document notes that Von Brunn refused his one phone call.

Read More "Shooting At Holocaust Museum; Alleged Perp James Von Brunn Had Criminal Record" »

D.C. Dish Hall of Fame
advertisement
Crafty Bastards Blog
  • Crafty Bastards!
    Blog
Can I have seconds?

This Week

Current Issue
The Issue of Nov. 18 - 24, 2009

advertisement
advertisement