Rifle used in museum shooting too old to trace, official says

**pandemic** · June 13th, 2009, 03:31 AM

Shooting suspect James von Brunn is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by security officers.

Stephen Tyrone Johns, working at the Holocaust museum, opened the door for the suspect, who then shot him.

The entrance to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, which was closed Thursday but reopened Friday.

WASHINGTON (CNN) -- It is not possible for authorities to trace the rifle used in this week's shooting at the Holocaust Memorial Museum to the original purchaser, a law enforcement source said Friday.
Shooting suspect James von Brunn is hospitalized in critical condition after being shot by security officers.

The source, who was not authorized to speak publicly about the investigation, said the weapon is a Winchester Model 6, .22 caliber rifle -- a type of gun manufactured between 1908 and 1928 -- long before records were kept on gun purchases.

Authorities also were checking to see if the weapon had been used in any other crime, the source said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of people stood patiently in line Friday to visit the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, less than 48 hours after a gunman shot and killed a security officer there.

"We're here with very heavy hearts. It's sad on all fronts," said Michele Robinson of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

"If anything, the line of people here waiting to get in proves to the world that hatred will never win. It will never win," she added. Video Watch a discussion of what fuels hate crimes »

Gary Browse of Cincinnati, Ohio, said he was in the museum when the shooting occurred Wednesday afternoon, but returned on Friday with his family.

"We want to see the museum, and we trust the city of Washington to keep us safe," he said.

"Had we been in that lobby we could have been in the line of fire. It's very humbling to know that someone died ... to protect you."

The museum was closed Thursday, its flags lowered to half-staff in tribute to Stephen Tyrone Johns, who had worked there six years. See where the museum is located »

Flower bouquets in his memory were placed near the main entrance to the museum, along with his photograph.

James von Brunn, 88, has been charged with murder in the death of Johns, 39, a security officer who police say opened a museum door Wednesday for the reputed white supremacist. Video Law enforcement analyst talks about how this could have happened »

Von Brunn remains in critical condition at a hospital, Washington police said. He was shot by other security officers at the scene.
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Believe it or not, .22's can cause more extreme damage inside of a boy than a 9mm or .45. Horrible way to go.

**Warpt762x39** · June 13th, 2009, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by mchaley

"We want to see the museum, and we trust the city of Washington to keep us safe," he said.

The only person you can trust to keep yourself safe is.....wait for it.......you ready to hear it.......yourself.

Those who trust others to keep them safe won't last long if society collapses in any way.

**pandemic** · June 13th, 2009, 11:43 PM

yeah. Even if society didn't collapse it's risky. If you want a job done right, do it yourself.

I was also surprised to hear it was a .22 that killed the guard.

**panzermk2** · June 14th, 2009, 12:10 AM

Beck was commenting on how all the reporting has called this guy a rightwing extremest. Beck ran down the list from the guys own website. He was a leftwing nut job. Beck also pointed out that just about every single time some nutjob pulls this sort of thing he really a lefty easily found out by basic research and yet the main stream media always calls them right wing nuts.

He wants to dissolve Israel. .
He believes George W. Bush is behind 9/11.
He hates Bill O'Reilly.
He has threatened to bomb the weekly standard. A conservative magazine.
He hates neocons.
He hates the Fed.
He Targeted Fox News.
He hates blacks.

**Warpt762x39** · June 14th, 2009, 12:30 AM

Originally Posted by panzermk2

Beck was commenting on how all the reporting has called this guy a rightwing extremest. Beck ran down the list from the guys own website. He was a leftwing nut job. Beck also pointed out that just about every single time some nutjob pulls this sort of thing he really a lefty easily found out by basic research and yet the main stream media always calls them right wing nuts.

He wants to dissolve Israel. .
He believes George W. Bush is behind 9/11.
He hates Bill O'Reilly.
He has threatened to bomb the weekly standard. A conservative magazine.
He hates neocons.
He hates the Fed.
He Targeted Fox News.
He hates blacks.

I think most people hate Bill O'Reilly. Lol.

**zzeiber** · June 14th, 2009, 01:05 AM

Originally Posted by Warpt762x39

I think most people hate Bill O'Reilly. Lol.

I know I do.

I don't care about his politics.

He's just a monumental douche bag who has no idea what a debate is.

Yelling at someone, not letting them speak and calling them names isn't debating.