Guards shun hero tag in museum killing

Two from Charles shot suspect in D.C. murder

Friday, June 19, 2009

Jason McCuiston, a new officer at the Washington, D.C., museum, got picked to act as a "point man," the worker who stands at the door and helps people through security. Other officers pretended to be confused or upset museum visitors, and McCuiston demonstrated the way to maintain calm while helping them.

Harry Weeks, another officer who carpooled with McCuiston from their homes in Charles County, watched the exercise from the back of the room.

"Everybody had laughs, and it was a good way to start the morning," Weeks said.

A few hours into his shift, Weeks rotated out of the "point man" position, giving it to officer Stephen Johns. McCuiston also took a post near the entrance, substituting for an officer on lunch break.

An elderly man approached the museum several minutes later, and Johns opened the door to help him inside.

The man, James von Brunn, a notorious white supremacist with a Web site full of hate, raised a .22-caliber rifle and fired a fatal shot into Johns' upper chest, according to an affidavit.

Weeks and McCuiston shot back, hitting von Brunn in the face. The 88-year-old man fell to the ground, but wasn't killed.

The Charles County men said they weren't even supposed to be working that day.

Because of the movie premiere, the Holocaust museum needed volunteers to work extra hours, and supervisors called on McCuiston and Weeks to fill the gap.

"It was almost like somebody knew … and it was meant to be that we were together at that time," McCuiston said. The men were friends before the shooting, but now they're joined for life, he said.

Weeks, 50, of White Plains, retired in February from the District police force after serving as an officer for 27 years. Shortly after his retirement, he started working at the security company Wackenhut Services Inc., which stationed him at the Holocaust museum.

One of the first people to befriend him was Johns, noticeable for his 6 feet, 6 inches height and huge smile.

"It was a great group of people to work with and made you feel right at home, especially officer Johns," said McCuiston, who started working at the museum soon after Weeks. "He was very, very kind. All he did was smile from ear to ear."

McCuiston, 30, got the job at Wackenhut after relocating to Waldorf from Georgia, where he had served as a police officer. Moving to Maryland was coming home for McCuiston; he said he grew up in Charles County and graduated from La Plata High School before leaving to join the U.S. Marine Corps.

When they landed work at the Holocaust museum, McCuiston and Weeks said they expected the job to be fairly calm.

"It was more customer service-friendly. You know in the back of your mind you might have to do something, but you didn't feel like a police officer," said Weeks, who is on administrative leave with McCuiston until a therapist clears them to work again. "Now, it won't be the same."

Both men brush off the title of "hero," saying they simply did their jobs. They'd rather the praise go to Johns.

"Not many people can say they left this world doing an act of compassion, opening the door to what seemed to be just an elderly man," McCuiston said.

On June 11, von Brunn was charged with first-degree murder and possession of a firearm in a federal building. When asked about the alleged shooter, McCuiston said he doesn't want to comment.

Weeks covered his face with his hand and said he knew Johns' mother spoke about forgiving von Brunn.

"In time, I can forgive him," he said.

brodgers@somdnews.com