Gunman, guards exchange fire in Holocaust Museum

06-11-2009 | AP

An elderly assailant and a wounded security guard are both hospitalized

Panama Star WASHINGTON, D. C. An elderly gunman opened fire inside the US Holocaust Memorial Museum on Wednesday, wounding a security guard before two other guards returned fire. The assailant and his victim were both hospitalized.

The extent of the injuries was not immediately known, US Park Police Sgt. David Schlosser said.

Authorities did not officially announced the name of the assailant, yet a law enforcement official said James Von Brunn, an elderly white supremacist, is being investigated as a potential suspect.

The episode unfolded inside the museum, which maintains a heavy security presence, with guards positioned inside and out. All visitors are required to pass through metal detectors at the entrance, and bags are screened. It was not immediately known whether the gunman made it through the detectors before opening fire.

The museum, across the street from the National Mall, and within sight of the Washington Monument, was closed for the day after the shooting. Nearby streets were cordoned off by police.

In a statement, museum spokesman Andrew Hollinger said an assailant shot a museum security officer and "two museum security officers returned fire, hitting the assailant."

At the House, press secretary Robert Gibbs said he informed President Barack Obama of the events and said the chief executive was "obviously saddened by what has happened."

The museum houses exhibits and records relating to the Holocaust more than a half century ago in which more than six million people were killed by the Nazis.