Two days ago, District residents expressed out their anger/disbelief/outrage over the U.S. Park Police shooting of Trey Joyner. Yesterday, everyone kept refreshing Twitter, the Post, We Love DC, whoever for news about the tragedy that had unfolded at the Holocaust Museum when a racist-old-man from Annapolis named James Von Brunn opened fire.
By tonight, I admit I had basically moved on. I ate dinner. I watched bad TV. I listened to this awesome new Fiery Furnaces song.
Then I stumbled on the Facebook page dedicated to the slain security guard Stephen Tyrone Johns. There will be some other tragedy today, tomorrow or this weekend. Yesterday morning, a woman died in a fire in NE. At around 5 p.m. yesterday, two people were shot at 1st and M Street NW. It didn’t take long for people to add their crazy shit to the list of crazy shit everyone gets outraged over.
But before you get outraged over the next big thing. Please read the pages devoted to Stephen Tyrone Johns.
Here’s a sample:
“Im pretty sure he was the same guard who welcomed me after I picked up my cell phone from the security check today…looked like he was a good man. I will miss that welcome dearly. The other man who was working with him eariler also helped me get out of the second floor after the shooting. I am glad he was still around to help me evacute.”
“I worked beside him at the Holocaust Museum. He was a wonderful, brave man, and he will be deeply missed. RIP Big John”
“Just saw his young son interviewed in front of his house on ABC Nightline. Crushing. I hope a fund is established for the family.”
“I only missed the shooting by minutes and showed up for my shift as security was just starting to seal off the streets and asked me to help direct people away. Johns was a nice man and I can’t believe he’s dead in the 24 hours since I last saw him.”
“Stephen I remember you every morning helping me when I came in to work, bumbling through the scanner with my wheelchair, always there to help….always there with a smile. Always helping with the groups of children visiting. I will miss you friend… and know that you are now at peace…may my prayers forever be with you and your family.”
“I remember you from my first time to the museum a few weeks ago. You were helping take care of a holy place. God bless!”
“I remember Mr. John’s face from my visit to the museum a few months ago.”
“Big John, I’m gonna miss your smiling face, you always greeted us employees with a smile that I will truly never forget, when I root for the skins this fall, I will think of you, whenever I enter the sacred halls of my Museum, I will think of you, may the Lord in Heaven take you into his precious arms, he truly has a soldier in his army.”