After arguing with his wife, a 67-year-old man named Newell Mock shot her daughter and killed her son-in-law before taking his own life, according to Panama City, Florida, police on Monday, Dec. 16.
The incident happened on Friday, Dec. 13, after Mock had a fight with his wife, Rhonda Mock, 65. After Rhonda left their home, Mock went to the house of her daughter, Jessica Johns.
At the time, Jessica was at home with her husband, Joshua Johns, and their two children, ages 5 and 7, who were asleep upstairs. Mock reportedly forced his way into the house and immediately started shooting at the couple, hitting them multiple times.
Police said they received a 911 call about the shooting and arrived at the scene within 2.5 minutes. They found Mock sitting on the porch with a handgun.
Officers tried to calm him down, but he refused to talk and fatally shot himself. Police did not fire any weapons during the incident, and Mock did not threaten the officers.
Inside the house, officers found Joshua dead and Jessica critically injured. First aid was given to Jessica, and she was taken to the hospital, where she is now recovering from serious injuries.
Jessica’s sister, Molly Vise, created a GoFundMe to help with expenses, stating that Jessica faces a tough recovery while raising her children without Joshua. Molly described Joshua as a loving husband, father, and friend, and his loss has left their family deeply heartbroken.
Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith said Mock’s anger was directed at his wife. When he couldn’t confront her, he chose to harm her family to hurt her. The case is still under investigation.
