Holocaust Museum suspect tied to W Mich

WASHINGTON (AP) - A law enforcement official said Wednesday that James Von Brunn, an elderly white supremacist, is being investigated as the prime suspect in the shooting at the U.S. Holocaust Museum.

Another law enforcement official said Von Brunn's vehicle was found near the museum and was tested for explosives.

The two officials were not authorized to discuss the investigation and spoke on condition that they remain anonymous.

At a press conference, officials declined to confirm Von Brunn is their suspect.

According to Joseph Persichini, assistant director in charge of the Washington FBI field office, authorities have dispatched people to a suspect's home to check his computer. He said they are investigating this as a possible hate crime or domestic terrorism.

Von Brunn has a racist, anti-Semitic Web site, www.holywesternempire.com, and wrote a book called "Kill the Best Gentile," described as a hard-hitting expose of the Jewish conspiracy to destroy the white gene pool. The Web site was pulled down Wednesday evening.

The Holy Western Empire site provides a clearer understanding of Von Brunn. It includes his writings and a biography.

Von Brunn was in federal prison 6 1/2 years for trying to arrest the Federal Reserve Board Governors for treason, according to his Web site. He describes himself as an author and artist living in Maryland.

But the Web site is registered in West Michigan.

According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, Von Brunn owned the site until 2000. It later was taken over by Steve Reimink of West Olive.

A spokeswoman from the Southern Poverty Law Center said they've been tracking Von Brunn for three years, and will look into Reimink.

24 Hour News 8 went to Reimink's West Olive residence, and a woman answered the door, identifying herself as his girlfriend.

"He's at work, but I don't think you should be bothering him at work," she said. "I don't even know if he knows what's going on."

She said Reimink would return home at 7 p.m. 24 Hour News 8 waited, and he never showed up.

Reimink's girlfriend said she did not know about his involvement with any Web site, and would not give out any more information.

The U.S. Park Police says the gunman in Wednesday's attack walked into the museum with a long gun. The gunman and a security guard were shot. A law enforcement source said the gunman was shot in the face, and authorities say he is in critical condition. The guard died.

In 1983, Von Brunn was convicted of attempting to kidnap members of the Federal Reserve Board. He was arrested two years earlier outside the room where the board was meeting, carrying a revolver, knife and sawed-off shotgun.

At the time, police said Von Brunn wanted to take the members hostage because of high interest rates and the nation's economic difficulties.

24 Hour News 8 and Associated Press Writers Eileen Sullivan and Lolita Baldor contributed to this report.