TEMPLE HILLS, Md. - Family and friends of 39-year-old Stephen T. Johns remember the 6-foot, 6-inch father, son and husband as a gentle giant.

Johns' son, Stephen junior, recalled Thursday in an interview rushing to the hospital to see his wounded father.

"I thought he would make it. But he didn't," said Johns' 11-year-old son, Stephen Jr.

The elder Stephen died before they made it.

Johns' family members spent much of the day watching
the news. For Jacqueline Carter, Johns' mother, she lost a child who loved his job at the museum.

"He loved his job, he loved his family," she said. "People used to refer to him as the gentle giant. He just loved life "

"He always wanted to be in that particular line of law enforcement, helping to save people, or keep them safe," added Carter.

Carter proudly showed photos of Johns at various stages of his life. Pictures of Stephens senior and junior at similar ages looked remarkably alike. 
"He is doing his job and loving it and somebody who's just full of hatred can just come in and just take his life away and that's really sad for me."

It's also extremely difficult for a young boy to understand. Stephen junior said he and his dad had been talking about this to do this summer

"One thing for sure I knew we were going fishing, in a boat," he said.

Johns had remarried about a year ago after divorcing his first wife, Stephen junior's mother. His new wife was too distraught to talk Thursday.

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