Slain Holocaust museum guard remembered as hero

A security guard at the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum who was fatally shot Wednesday was described as a warm man with a wonderful smile who acted courageously when the gunman opened fire in the building.

The gunman exchanged fire with guards, including 39-year-old Stephen T. Johns of Temple Hills, Md., who died at a Washington hospital from his injuries, police said. Authorities have said 88-year-old James W. von Brunn, a white supremacist, was under investigation in the shooting.

Sara Bloomfield, director of the museum, described Johns as "a great friend who greeted us every day with a wonderful smile — and he will be missed."

"Obviously, there are no words to express our grief and shock," she said.

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No telling what would have happened had he gotten in with the rifle.

Stephen Johns is a bona-fide hero. I am sad that it was his life which was lost.

L-

We've discussed and argued over the assailant and his potential connections in many threads.
Mr Johns, who leaves behind a wife and son, deserves to be honored by us so much more. May he rest in peace; and may his family be consoled.

K&R

and sympathies to his family and loved ones. Rest in peace, job well done.

He got a paycheck. He knew the risks.
dc

Sorry, the man is a hero.

He was doing his job.

basically, he saw an old man, and opened the door for him. That act is what probably cost him his life. He was distracted by the act of courtesy. Had he not opened the door, he might have been able to react to the weapon faster. News reports I have seen, said he was shot immediately, as he opned the door.

I'm sure that once he was shot, the rest of the guards opened fire , as well.

We don't expect old people to be violent.

He died in the line of duty, but not like a firefighter in a fire, or a cop on the beat. He had no reason to believe that every day his life was in danger. Security guards may be armed, but probably most of them see nothing more than the occasional scuffle, or crowd control.

It probably makes us all feel better to elevate him to hero status, to alleviate the fact that he died for no good reason.