Michelle Malkin » Stephen Tyrone Johns: Guard, father, hero

Stephen Tyrone Johns: Guard, father, hero

By Michelle Malkin • June 11, 2009 06:37 AM

Here is more on Holocaust Museum security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns, the gentle giant who was murdered by the racist whackjob yesterday. Via the Washington Post:

“A soft-spoken, gentle giant,” said Milton Talley, a former employee of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, where Johns was killed yesterday in the line of duty — shot, authorities said, by an avowed white supremacist who entered the museum with a rifle.

…”Immediately upon entering the front doors of the museum, he raised the rifle and started shooting,” D.C. Police Chief Cathy L. Lanier said of von Brunn, 88, adding that he “was engaged by security guards, and there was an exchange of gunfire.”

When the smoke cleared, von Brunn was critically wounded. The only casualty among the guards was Johns, who lived in Prince George’s County. At least one bullet from a small-caliber rifle hit Johns in his upper-left torso, according to Johns’s employer, the Wackenhut security company.

“Two other . . . armed security officers opened fire with their service revolvers,” the company said. “The intruder was hit at once” and wounded.

Johns died at George Washington University Hospital.

“There are no words to express our grief and shock over these events,” the museum said in a statement, describing Johns as “an outstanding colleague who greeted us every day with a smile.”

Johns, a 1988 graduate of Crosslands High School in Temple Hills, lived in an apartment in the Temple Hills area. Friends said he had a son.

Amen to this:

William S. Parsons, the Holocaust museum’s chief of staff, praised Johns and his colleagues.

“Never take your guard force or your security people for granted,” Parsons said. “They did exactly what they were supposed to do.”

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Comments

#1

On June 11th, 2009 at 6:42 am, DagneyT said:

This is just so sad. This guy had been spewing his venom all over the internet, and should have been in jail long ago…or at least under scrutiny!
#2

On June 11th, 2009 at 6:57 am, zorro said:

I’ve been traveling the past two weeks so I may have missed it but I don’t recall hearing a comment on this from the narcissist and chief.

For Stephen Tyrone Johns I pray,
Eternal rest grant unto him O Lord,
And let perpetual Light shine upon him.
May his soul
And all the souls of all the faithful departed
Through the mercy of God
Rest in peace.
Amen.
#3

On June 11th, 2009 at 7:14 am, Lindsay said:

Prayers for Stephen Tyrone Johns and his family. If it not for him many others would have been injured or died yesterday. RIP.
#4

On June 11th, 2009 at 7:29 am, Valerie said:

God bless Mr. Johns, and his grieving family. And my thanks to all those that prevented that vile old killer from doing even more harm.
#5

On June 11th, 2009 at 8:52 am, cpodug said:

“Never take your guard force or your security people for granted”

Hear that, Obama? Words of wisdom. Too bad those words will be wasted.
#6

On June 11th, 2009 at 8:54 am, Sergeant Tim said:

Stephen Tyrone Johns, hero!. R.I.P.
#7

On June 11th, 2009 at 8:59 am, cactusjoe said:

I would say to Mr. Johns the words that I hope one day to hear from my Savior, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.

God bless.
#8

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:00 am, Paul Revere said:

Ugh…this sickens me on so many levels. Peace, sir.
#9

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am, englishqueen01 said:

May Mr. Johns rest in peace, and may his family know comfort in this time of sorrow.

And may God have mercy on Mr. Von Brunn.
#10

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:18 am, Rogue Cheddar said:

“I read the news today, oh boy!”

RIP Hero.
#11

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:29 am, IndyRich said:

I hate to think how many more would’ve been killed by that racist scumbag IF the guards would’ve been UNarmed…

Mr. Johns is a hero and I hope his family is taken care of as such.

The other guards (who returned fire) are heros also – they saved the lives of many civilians. Well done, gentlemen!! I’d love to have the chance to shake your hands!!
#12

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am, sonofdy said:

Sadly he will only be remembered by us. The MSM will be too busy attacking conservatives and christians.

Rest in peace.
#13

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:57 am, granite said:

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:38 am, sonofdy said:

Sadly he will only be remembered by us. The MSM will be too busy attacking conservatives and christians.

Correct.

Rest in peace.

Amen.
#14

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:59 am, MtsEdge said:

Prayers for Mr. Johns’ family in this tragic time. Another light has gone out in this darkened world.

I, too, am glad the security force was armed. As it wrote that sentence, it seemed ridiculous to have to point that out, but in our new world order, armed civilians may become the exception, not the rule.

May God have mercy on Mr. Johns’ soul, and may He grant his family peace. I am also thankful for the quick actions of the other guard who brought down the vile killer and saved countless lives.
#15

On June 11th, 2009 at 10:00 am, MtsEdge said:

it I wrote
#16

On June 11th, 2009 at 10:02 am, walterc said:

And to think these guards are about he lowest paid people in this (or any other) business. They, along with police, EMTs, firefighters, military do their jobs out of a sense of duty rather than for the pay. And are frequently under acknowledged and under appreciated.

Bless you Officer Johns, and those who stand with you. May god bring you and your family peace.
#17

On June 11th, 2009 at 10:39 am, angryoldfatman said:

These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you.

Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you.

Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

John 15:11-16, KJV
#18

On June 11th, 2009 at 11:29 am, fairyfoose said:

My deepesst sympathy for the Johns’ Family. `No greater love has any man, than to lay down his life for his fellow man.’ This man should be honored as a Hero. I will pray for his family and those that knew and loved him.
#19

On June 11th, 2009 at 11:48 am, Cathy B said:

Washington DC Mayor is speaking now..
My condolences to the family of Officer Johns..
#20

On June 11th, 2009 at 12:12 pm, greenfairie said:

These guards who work the Smithsonian and the Capitol Hill Police are the only line of defense whenever a loony decides to hunting for tourists and imaginary enemies. Any guard assigned to the U.S. Holocaust museum knows something like this will inevitably happen. Johns was a brave man and his sacrifice ensured that scores of innocent people were saved yesterday.
#21

On June 11th, 2009 at 12:41 pm, Living in the PSRK said:

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:03 am, englishqueen01 said:
May Mr. Johns rest in peace, and may his family know comfort in this time of sorrow.

Amen

And may God have mercy on Mr. Von Brunn.

No, may one of those liberal Jews that JVB hated so much who believes in euthanasia be a doctor or nurse who treats him as he should be treated – an OD of what ever will keep him from taking another breath.
#22

On June 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm, 24Klady said:

The media, including the seriously confused Shep Smith, keeps calling the shooter a ‘white supremecist’ and anti-semitic. They are completely glossing over his hatred for christians. He hated everyone, everything, about our society. We may not like some things about our world, but lumping him in to score points is wrong. WindbagSmith lost a viewer yesterday. I’d just gotten over his previous grievance over torture and his NOLA rant during Katrina. I am so done with him. Oh, and O’Reilly too.

The Museum will do something to memorialize Mr. Johns. I’m grateful for his life, and saddened it was cut short. RIP Mr. Johns
#23

On June 11th, 2009 at 1:11 pm, 24Klady said:

I must not have had enough caffeine yet – my spelling is way off. Memo to self: get more sleep.
#24

On June 11th, 2009 at 1:21 pm, fairyfoose said:

I think the Museum and some in the Jewish Community will honor Mr. Johns. I await what they will do.
#25

On June 11th, 2009 at 1:58 pm, MtsEdge said:

On June 11th, 2009 at 1:08 pm, 24Klady said:

24K, Shep has lost 2 viewers. I used to gloss over his program, not really watching, but now I think I’ll just turn the tube off. I’m done with him, too, and also w/O’Reilly. O’Reilly’s only bright moment for me comes on Wednesday nights w/Dennis Miller. Otherwise, he’s just another pompous blowhard in my book.

I certainly hope that the Museum does memorialize the sacrifice and heroism of Mr. Johns.
#26

On June 11th, 2009 at 2:52 pm, fairyfoose said:

I could never stand Shepard Smith; don’t know what the attraction was. Bill O’Reilly is watched by the person to whom I am related by marriage, though he is leaning more towards Lou Dobbs now.
#27

On June 11th, 2009 at 3:04 pm, MtsEdge said:

I could never stand Shepard Smith; don’t know what the attraction was.

Heh. Makes me think of how Shep feels when he looks in the mirror.
#28

On June 11th, 2009 at 3:11 pm, rightwingmom said:

My prayers are with the John family. This is a terrible tragedy and he died saving others. Very honorable man!
#29

On June 11th, 2009 at 3:15 pm, rightwingmom said:

24 ~ I disagree w/ Shep and O’Reilly often.

They are still far superior to the “stooges” on MSNBC, CNN, NBC, ABC, etc.

Don’t get me started on CBS. (Letterman’s pathetic progressive attack on Palin)
#30

On June 11th, 2009 at 6:30 pm, fairyfoose said:

Heard this morning that Letterman had to take a pay cut due to his ratings. Couldn’t happen to a worse louse.
#31

On June 11th, 2009 at 9:09 pm, rightisright said:

R.I.P. Mr. Johns, a hero making the ultimate sacrifice for duty. May his family find comfort in knowing their loss saved many lives, bless them.
#32

On June 13th, 2009 at 6:02 pm, kalebral said:

FYI:
This fund is being set up by the private security company who employed SPO Johns.

Stephen T. Johns Memorial Fund. Those wishing to make a
contribution to the fund can do so by sending a check or money order made
payable to Zakiah Christina Johns c/o WSI to:

Wachovia
4440 PGA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

For more information contact:
Susan P. Pitcher
Exec. Assistant
WSI
7121 Fairway Dr., Suite 301
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33418
561-472-3619
FAX 561-472-3688