Panama City, FL – A couple was shot, reportedly for no reason, by the wife’s stepfather on Friday at midnight before he killed himself.
A horrible family argument turned deadly on the night of Friday, December 13th.
According to Panama City Police, Newell Mock, 67, had a very heated argument with his wife, Rhonda Mock, 65.
Reportedly, the fight became very intense. Newell armed himself with a handgun, and right after that, Rhonda ran to get away from the house.
Newell then drove to Rhonda’s daughter, Jessica Johns’ home in the SweetBay neighborhood of Panama City.
Both Jessica Johns and her husband, Josh Johns, both 40 years old, were at home with their two children, aged 5 and 7, who were sleeping upstairs.
Newell forcefully entered the home and shot the couple, striking them multiple times.
The Panama City Police Department received multiple 911 calls after the shooting. When the police arrived at the location, they saw Newell sitting on the front porch with the gun in his hand.
Police tried to de-escalate the situation, but he refused to talk to the authorities.
Despite the officers’ efforts to stop him, Newell fatally shot himself.
When the police entered the home, they found Josh deceased and Jessica critically injured. Officers provided life-saving care to Jessica while others cleared the house. She was later transported to the hospital.
When the police went upstairs, they discovered the couple’s 5- and 7-year-old children sleeping. A PCPD volunteer chaplain stayed with the children until family members could be found to care for them.
An investigation was started to determine a possible motive. So far, no specific details have been released regarding what the argument between Newell and his wife was about or why he went to his stepdaughter’s house to shoot them.
On December 16th, the Panama City Police Chief said that Newell took his wife Rhonda’s car and phone when he drove to the Johns’ home.
Police stated that Newell was possibly under the influence of alcohol during the attack and that it was a targeted act.
Authorities believe the primary target of the attack was Newell’s wife, but when she left and he couldn’t harm her, he went to her stepdaughter’s home.
The Police Chief added that Newell’s anger was primarily directed toward his wife, Rhonda. However, when he couldn’t hurt her, he decided to drive to her loved ones and harm them instead.
