UPDATED:
The 88-year-old anti-Semitic gunman charged with murder in connection with the fatal shooting of a security guard Wednesday at the U.S. National Holocaust Museum also said President Obama is controlled by Jews, according to an FBI affidavit released Thursday.
“Obama was created by Jews,” the suspected shooter James W. von Brunn wrote in a notebook recovered by police, according to the affidavit. “Obama does what his Jew owners tell him to do.”
Mr. von Brunn, of Annapolis, is being charged with murder and killing with a firearm in a federal facility, said Metropolitan Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier.
“You want my weapons — this is how you’ll get them,” Mr. von Brunn also wrote, according to the affidavit. “The Holocaust is a lie.”
Click here to see the redacted affidavit.
Joseph Persichini Jr., assistant director in charge of the FBI’s Washington field office, said officials also are considering additional charges related to hate crimes and civil rights violations.
“We need to send a message that this country does not authorize or approve any act that is attached to hatred in America,” he said.
Mr. von Brunn entered the museum shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday and fatally shot security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, 39, of Temple Hills.
Mr. von Brunn remains in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital. Police say five shots were exchange inside the museum lobby.
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Mr. von Brunn remains in critical condition at George Washington University Hospital. Police say five shots were exchange inside the museum lobby.
Mr. Johns opened the lobby door for Mr. von Brunn, who then shot him in the chest with a .22 caliber shotgun. Other officers working for the Wackenhut Services Inc. security company returned shots and dropped Mr. von Brunn.
“Stephen opened the door as he saw an elderly man coming in,” said Bill Parsons, the museum’s chief of staff. “He was caring about him, and he opened the door, and he was shot.”
D.C. Mayor Adrian M. Fenty praised the efforts of the museum’s security staff.
“Their efforts yesterday to bring this gunman down so quickly literally saved the lives of thousands of people,” he said. “One life lost is a tragedy, but this could have been much, much worse.”
Mr. Persichini said the FBI had no open investigation against Mr. von Brunn.
The affidavit also provides details on how investigators linked Mr. von Brunn to the shooting, including going to his hospital bedside to take his fingerprints, then match them to a database.
Mr. von Brunn served more than six years for attempting in the 1980s to take hostage Federal Reserve Board members.
Other evidence that identified Mr. von Brunn as the shooter was a driver’s license found in his wallet and a vehicle registration card inside his 2002 red Hyundai, parked outside the museum.
The affidavit also states FBI agents raced to the Annapolis address on the license where they were met by Brandy Teel.
Ms. Teel told agents she shared the apartment with Mr. von Brunn’s son, Erik, and that the father moved in about two years ago.
She said Mr. von Brunn has his own room and pays $400 in monthly rent.
“He came with two weapons, a 30/30 rifle and a .22 caliber rifle,” Ms. Teel said, according to the affidavit — the evidence presented to a judge to bring formal charges.
Police said the shootout inside the museum was captured on videotape and that Mr. von Brunn still had 10 live rounds inside his shotgun.
Channing Phillips, acting U.S. attorney for the District of Columbia, said if convicted Mr. von Brunn will face a mandatory life sentence without the possibility of parole and would be eligible for the death penalty.
Mr. von Brunn also said Jews have “captured America’s money” and “control the mass media,” according to the affidavit.
• Joseph Weber can be reached at jweber@washingtontimes.com.old.
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