The accused Holocaust museum shooter has died in a prison hospital, according to public defender A.J. Kramer.
The Federal Bureau of Prisons confimed that James von Brunn "passed away shortly before 1 p.m. today."
Von Brunn, a white supremacist, was shot once behind the right ear by a museum guard after von Brunn entered the museum and allegedly shot and killed another guard, Stephen T. Johns.
Von Brunn, who was 89 at the time of the shooting, did not appear in court for months because of his injuries. When he finally did, in September, he was in a wheelchair. Von Brunn's attorney has said he had trouble hearing and speaking as a result of being shot and was not able to walk.
The white supremacist was receiving treatments at Butner Federal Medical Center in Butner, N.C. His medical conditions had kept him from court proceedings. The next hearing in his case was set for Jan. 26.
Kramer told the Associated Press that von Brunn's death was "a sad end to a tragic situation," but declined further comment.
Johns' mother, Jacqueline Carter, made the following statement upon learning of von Brunn's death:
“I had hoped that he would have an opportunity to think about what he had done and that he would have a change of heart about the things he had thought. I had hoped that in time he would realize that what he did was not right. I never wished anything bad for him. I just truly regret that he felt that he needed to do this to my family and my son. I also regret the fact that he has been tormented by the hatred. His passing doesn’t bring any relief for our family. I’m sure his actions and attitudes have hurt his family as well. I was hoping he would change."
