A grandfather, Newell Mock, 67, engaged in a heated argument with his wife, Rhonda Mock, 65, before he shot her daughter and son-in-law while their children were asleep upstairs. The dispute escalated to the point where Newell armed himself with a handgun, causing Rhonda to flee their home in fear on December 13.
Following this, Newell travelled to the residence of Rhonda’s daughter, Jessica Johns, in Panama City’s SweetBay neighbourhood, armed with the firearm. He forced his way into the house and fired multiple shots at both Jessica and her husband Joshua Johns, 40.
Responding to a 911 call about the shooting, police arrived within two minutes to find Newell sitting on the front porch, still armed. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Newell refused to engage in dialogue and ultimately took his own life. The Panama City Police Department confirmed that he did not threaten the officers, who did not discharge their weapons.
Tragedy struck when police discovered Joshua Johns dead and Jessica Johns critically injured inside their home. While officers provided life-saving care to Jessica, they found the couple’s young children sleeping upstairs; a PCPD Volunteer Chaplain and officers stayed with them until relatives arrived to take over their care, reports The Mirror US.
Jessica is currently hospitalised for her injuries. In light of this terrible ordeal, the community has rallied on GofundMe to cover Joshua’s funeral and Jessica’s medical expenses, as well as support for their children. A heartfelt message on the campaign, which impressively surpassed $100,000, reads: “Josh was a loving husband, father, and friend. His sudden passing has created an immense void in our hearts, and our family is struggling with profound grief.
“Jessica is now facing a long and difficult road to recovery, both physically and emotionally. As she heals, she will also be navigating the challenging reality of raising their children without Josh. Josh and Jessica are incredibly loved and celebrated in our community, and their strength and kindness touched so many lives.”
Police are urging the public to come forward with any additional details regarding the incident. Their spokesperson announced: “This is an ongoing investigation. Anyone having information on this case is urged to call the Panama City Police Department at 850-872-3100, or they can report their tips anonymously to Crime Stoppers at 850-785-TIPS.”
