Erik Von Brunn, Shooter's Son: I Wish Dad Had Died Instead

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.

Watch:

"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.

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Comments

[KH00028339]

01:52 PM on 06/16/2009

It is commendabl­e that Mr. Erik von Brunn is speaking out against the sinful actions of his father. It is hard to believe that after all the history created in the 20th century, hate crimes such as this and others are still prevalent.
I respect that Mr. von Brunn has hard feelings toward his father, and I am grateful that he did not succumb to his father's way of thinking.
Due to the vengeful actions of his father, Mr. von Brunn now has to live with this pain. I hope that in the near future, he finds comfort in the words of the slain man's mother.
Mr. von Brunn is a courageous man for speaking out against his father's actions as he is showing America the devastatio­n of hate crimes.

[misslynna]

09:58 AM on 06/16/2009

Kudos to the son that he stopped the senseless violence at his generation­. If not the unfortunat­e situation may continue to the next generation­. I pray for him and hope that he continues to live bravely and to let go of his dad's sin. I am feel very sorry for him because he now has to live in sorrow for his dad action. I also pray for the victim's family and the people who knew and loved him because now they have to mourn the loss while he at peace in heaven. Rest in Peace.

[westreal]

09:03 AM on 06/16/2009

I'm crying again.

[JDHART]

08:49 AM on 06/16/2009

You have to feel sorry for the guy. He has to live with the aftermath of what his father did. It's unfair, he didn't do anything. All he can do is try to set the record straight and let people know that he doesn't agree with his father.

[GoCards1978]

08:17 AM on 06/16/2009

Erik Von Brunn is right. The wrong man died at the Holocaust Memorial Museum. I have no idea how it may happen but I, too, hope he may someday find peace.

[KarateKid]

08:14 AM on 06/16/2009

It's tough for social conservati­ves to avoid living in the past, like the 1950s. That's why Reagan was so popular. It was a white dominated world, and the colored people all knew their places. Putting the shoe on the other foot has really brought out the best in them, hasn't it?

[KLordsha]

03:26 AM on 06/16/2009

This is pretty sad...what the guy did was reprehensi­ble..and unforgivab­le..but at the end of the day...its your dad man. I couldn't have done that...

[sneez54]

02:43 AM on 06/16/2009

I am certainly hoping the surgeons that saved that hateful mans life were Jewish, Black and Hispanic! I also hope they tell him where the blood they gave him may of come from! I love the MASH show where they paint the guys skin dark to scare him that he had black blood given to him and he was now turning black! I hope he wakes up to see nurses and doctors of all races and colors helping him to live.

[mahamudra]

01:44 AM on 06/16/2009

All is forgiven in the light of Christ Consciousn­ess. May all involved (and that is everyone) grow in their desire for truth, for WHAT IS, for their Greater Beingness which is our Oneness our Eternal Ecstasy. No one is truly separate from another. One's pain is your pain, one's enlightenm­ent is your enlightenm­ent.
Admit your love that is boundless, a love beyond love beyond love. Healing all, rememberin­g wholeness the oneness of All and all of one. Only love is real. Only love is real.

[mahamudra]

01:37 AM on 06/16/2009

A Poem By Henry W.Frost

I walk alone, and am sore afraid;
My way is dark, my path with thorns o'er laid;
Draw near me, Lord*, and take my trembling hand
and make me brave to join thy pilgrim band.

Thou hast a band that fears not dark nor death,
Which suffers agony at every breath,
Yet sings with joy e'en in the midst of pain,
With whom the greatest loss is greatest gain.

Who would not walk with such a company?
Who would not sing with such an ecstasy?
Did I say lone and fear? God forgive
and teach me, e'en through sorrow, how to live.

Life is not Life which knows no shrinking fears;
Life is not Life which sheds no bitter tears.
This is true life when, through dark suffering,
One learns from Christ and men brave conquering­.

Then lead me on thou martyr-hos­t of God!
Then lead me on, O Christ to thine abode;
There with thy holy ones I shall find rest.
And learn that death, in life, was God's great best.

*The I am that I am. The you of you. Your God-self. in whom we are ONE. ( my thoughts)

[MRb1000]

01:18 AM on 06/16/2009

I hope this guy can find peace in his heart! This is teaching us all a lesson! We all do not believe what our parents do, but we all see how it can effect us all by one act of hate. I think we should teach our kids about the word hate. Hate the sin not the sinner! This man is not getting away with anything. This is my belief! The only thing he did was bring grief to his family for many generation­s. They will be known for cowardly act by their father.

[Mitsy]

09:46 PM on 06/15/2009

I watched this today. Very sad. But you know what? I hope the white people listen and understand­s a comment he made. He says he grew up hearing his father spew negativity about Jews, blacks etc., but he never thought his father would ultimately commit murder. I would encourage white people to note your 'white' friends who speak in intense racially inciteful tones, because that person who you think you know very well, could be a murderer, motivated by such intense hate. It does take another white person to stand up to another white person and talk them out that idealogica­l nonsense. Please do not live in bubble. I recall David Gergens on the night Prez Obama was elected, saying that this election made him realise the depth of the racial emotions that lay within people he had known for years. Do not turn a blind eye. The white friend you have who is always negative and you are saying " oh, thats just the way he is", may be the next shooter!

[kitten645]

10:59 PM on 06/15/2009

I agree however it isn't limited to "white people". There is religious hatred that spans all races. There are women-hati­ng men of all races. Hatred doesn't discrimina­te.

[KYlawyer]

11:32 PM on 06/15/2009

I can fully appreciate what you are saying. However, as a white man who has seen it from the "inside" and crossed swords on many occasions with closed minded bigots, I think though your intentions are good but regretfull­y naive.

These are people that normally are imbued with racism through their parents at a very early age. They generally have no objective relationsh­ips with non whites. By the time they get to adulthood their minds are shut to anything that challenges that virulent ha.te. I am not saying it never happens that a racist won't abandon their irrational­ity, but it generally only happens after some extreme life change or event causing an epiphany. i have never been able to shake a racist out of their shell of ha.te, but usually just end up in a very unpleasant confrontat­ion.

I am afraid that such as these can only be stopped, not reasoned with.

[CountryBeforeParty]

09:43 PM on 06/15/2009

The father was 88, the son was 32. So Dad was 56 when the son was born.

How much of a bond could there really have been?

[BruceHNV]

12:20 AM on 06/16/2009

What on earth does age have to do with it? Close bonds or no bonds are formed by fathers and sons of all ages all the time.

[leatherneck1971]

08:34 PM on 06/15/2009

Looks like the minute man charged in Arizona for double homicide of Hispanic man and his 9 year old daughter in 2009, has also been charged with a 12 year old homicide case of a another Hispanic man in that state as well! Ad this to the leader of this minute man organizati­on gave the orders one might wonder why not one peep in national news yet, but the serial cat killer is given prime time news coverage nation wide!
http://www­.kvoa.com/­global/sto­ry.asp?s=1­0536705

[sosi]

07:45 PM on 06/15/2009

Son, you will know better after you grow up...

[rfshunt]

08:53 PM on 06/15/2009

And what will he know that's better? To kill innocent people as they are doing their jobs?

[BruceHNV]

12:20 AM on 06/16/2009

What?

[rocko2466]

05:11 AM on 06/16/2009

We didn't start the flame war...