Here is a longer story, from the main area paper. The shooter and the congregation were apparently Micronesians. This is about 30 miles away from me, and we have a large Micronesian community as well, about 10% of the population and about 50% of the police calls. It is unusual for them to use guns, however.
http://www.joplinglobe.com/homepage/local_story_225000616.html?keyword=leadpicturestory
Gunman kills pastor, two others
By Greg Grisolano
[email protected]
NEOSHO, Mo. — A pastor and two members of a Neosho congregation were killed and several others were wounded when a man went on a shooting spree during a Sunday afternoon church service.
Kernal Rehobson, 44, of Goodman, was leading the service for a congregation of predominantly Micronesian worshippers at the First Congregational Church in downtown Neosho when the gunman burst into the church. Between 25 and 50 people, including children, were briefly held hostage, authorities said.
Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges said Rehobson was shot multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. The identities of the two other victims, both Micronesian men in their late 40s to early 50s, were not released because next of kin had not been notified.
Bridges said the shooter and at least one of the dead may have been relatives of Rehobson’s.
“It’s my understanding some of the victims and the shooter may be in the same family,” he said.
At least three others suffered serious wounds. They were taken to St. John’s Regional Medical Center and Freeman Hospital West in Joplin.
“From what I understand, they expect the three other victims in Joplin hospitals to survive,” Bridges said.
Officers with the Neosho Police Department, the Newton County Sheriff’s Department and the Missouri State Highway Patrol responded to a 911 call from the church at 1:54 p.m. The service started at 1 p.m.
A short time later, a team of officers stormed the church and found the gunman holding a gun to the head of a female hostage, said Newton County Sheriff Ken Copeland. After a brief stand-down, he surrendered without incident.
“The suspect surrendered without resistance,” Neosho police Chief David McCracken said at a news conference Sunday. “The suspect is now in Newton County Jail, pending charges.”
He declined to give any further information about the suspect, including his name, until charges are filed.
McCracken said authorities were not certain as to how many people were injured in the rampage.
“We had some people escape from the crime scene prior to police arrival that had been wounded,” he said. “At this point, we’re unclear as to exactly how many people have been wounded.”
Johnny Bowzer, 24, of Goodman, was across the street when police stormed the building’s side door. Bowzer was on his way to see a friend, Steve Magruder, who lives on McCord Street, across from the church.
“They (the SWAT team) were in there for about 20 seconds,” Bowzer said. “I could hear yelling coming from inside. They had four or five ambulances come up this road. One guy came running out the side door, and some SWAT guys tackled him.”
McCracken said police found three guns at the scene, a 9 mm handgun with an oversized magazine and two .22-caliber pistols.
Police said the motive for the shooting might have been a disturbance Saturday night between the suspect and the victims. “At this point, we don’t have enough information to make a determination,” McCracken said.
Micronesia is a group of islands in the South Pacific. According to figures from the 2000 census, as many as 8,300 Micronesians and other Pacific islanders were living in the Four-State Area. Rehobson, at least for a time several years ago, operated a specialty food store in Goodman called L&KS’ Island Market.
Church pastor Thomas Thorne said the Micronesian services, conducted in the islanders’ native tongue, started about three years ago and take place after English services have concluded.
“They are members of our church, but they’re basically their own entity,” he said. “They were trying to upgrade the outlook of the Micronesian community. They’re just some good people trying to better themselves and better other people of their ethnic group.”
Thorne said he appreciated the support the community was showing for the victims and the church.
“At this point in time, we just ask that everybody in their own way offer prayers for the family,” he said. “We appreciate the love and concern that we’ve already received from pastors and members of the community.”
Staff writers Joe Hadsall and Jeff Lehr contributed to this report.
News conference
Neosho police Chief David McCracken said information would be released at a news conference at 10:30 a.m. today.
is all I can say.