August 12, 2007 Neosho, MO.
A gunman ordered children out of the sanctuary killing three people and wounding at least five. He held 25 to 50 people hostage before surrendering at the First Congregational Church after 10 minutes of negotiations.

Police said this apparently happened because of an incident on Saturday night involving the suspect and a family that attended the Church.

A suspect in his 40s who was from the Pacific islands of Micronesia is held in the Newton County jail pending the filing of charges.

Pastor of First Congregational Church, Thorne, said he left his church about half an hour before the Pacific Islander congregation met.

This group gathered at the Church from 1 to 3 Sundays for worship in their native language.

Kernal Rehobson, 44, was killed. He led the congregation of Micronesian worshippers.

Police said the five wounded people, all adults, would recover.

The group used to meet at Kernal’s house. They were using the Church for worship while they searched for a meeting place of their own.

The gunman was said to have two small calibre handguns and a 9 mm semi-automatic machine pistol.

“This is a terrible tragedy which was made worse by the fact that it happened in a peaceful place of faith and worship,” Governor Matt Blunt said during a press release issued Sunday evening.