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Published August 13, 2007 12:06 am - 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. Gunman kills pastor, two others By Greg Grisolano
ggrisolano@joplinglobe.com 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.” 
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