NEOSHO, Mo. - A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing three people and wounding several others, authorities said.



About 25 to 50 people were briefly held hostage at the First Congregational Church until the gunman surrendered, Neosho spokeswoman Desiree Bridges said.

About four or five people were wounded, Police Chief Dave McCracken said, but several others who were injured fled the scene.

The shooter was being held at the Newton County Jail, but police were not releasing any information about him. Bridges said he was related to someone in the church, but declined to elaborate. No charges had been filed Sunday, McCracken said.

The gunman had two small-caliber handguns and one 9 mm semiautomatic machine pistol with a large magazine, McCracken said. The shooting followed the 1 p.m. service, which is held in Spanish. About 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly, were in the church at the time.

The gunman surrendered to authorities after about 10 minutes of negotiation.

"At the time that the rescue attempt was successful we had approximately 20 people in the sanctuary still," he said. "We had some people who escaped the crime scene prior to the police arrival that were wounded, and we had some people escape during the process and at the time of the rescue."

He said no one was injured during the arrest.

McCracken said he could not confirm whether the gunman was a member of the church. But he said an incident involving the suspect and a family that attended the First Congregational Church on Saturday night fueled the shooting Sunday.

"At this point though, we don't have any information more than that," McCracken said.

The identities of the deceased were being withheld, McCracken said.

eta link

Quoted: NEOSHO, Mo. - A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing three people and wounding several others, authorities said. About 25 to 50 people were briefly held hostage at the First Congregational Church until the gunman surrendered, Neosho spokeswoman Desiree Bridges said. About four or five people were wounded, Police Chief Dave McCracken said, but several others who were injured fled the scene. The shooter was being held at the Newton County Jail, but police were not releasing any information about him. Bridges said he was related to someone in the church, but declined to elaborate. No charges had been filed Sunday, McCracken said. The gunman had two small-caliber handguns and one 9 mm semiautomatic machine pistol with a large magazine, McCracken said. The shooting followed the 1 p.m. service, which is held in Spanish. About 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly, were in the church at the time. The gunman surrendered to authorities after about 10 minutes of negotiation. "At the time that the rescue attempt was successful we had approximately 20 people in the sanctuary still," he said. "We had some people who escaped the crime scene prior to the police arrival that were wounded, and we had some people escape during the process and at the time of the rescue." He said no one was injured during the arrest. McCracken said he could not confirm whether the gunman was a member of the church. But he said an incident involving the suspect and a family that attended the First Congregational Church on Saturday night fueled the shooting Sunday. "At this point though, we don't have any information more than that," McCracken said. The identities of the deceased were being withheld, McCracken said. eta link

bet it was a glock with a standard 16 round mag

THAT is exactly what caught my eye in that story and I was certain the first response would pick that out.

Right. We need to ban those semiautomatic machine pistols (new buzz-word?). This is exactly why we need to reinstate the AWB.

dupe.

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=607379

WTF!    My sister lives near that town, and I attended a funeral once at that church.  

Neosho, MO is not too far from my location here in NW Arkansas.  This reinforces my belief that the restrictions they put on CCW are stupid!!!  Churches and many other "gathering" places are legally off limits for CCW in my state, not sure about MO.  I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but does any libtard with half a brain really think this gunman or any others give two sh!ts what the law says?  Another fine example of why "Gun Free Zones" won't work.

Why the fuck can't you carry in a church

Legal in Idaho

Quoted: Neosho, MO is not too far from my location here in NW Arkansas.  This reinforces my belief that the restrictions they put on CCW are stupid!!!  Churches and many other "gathering" places are legally off limits for CCW in my state, not sure about MO.  I know I'm preaching to the choir here, but does any libtard with half a brain really think this gunman or any others give two sh!ts what the law says?  Another fine example of why "Gun Free Zones" won't work.

same in GA, i always wondered why there were school shootings, cause if someone wanted to shoot some kid he didnt like they should have gone to their house and done it, but i realized now cause it too is a "gun free zone", no worries but only security

Quoted: NEOSHO, Mo. - A gunman opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing three people and wounding several others, authorities said. The gunman had two small-caliber handguns and one 9 mm semiautomatic machine pistol with a large magazine, McCracken said. The shooting followed the 1 p.m. service, which is held in Spanish. About 50 people, ranging in age from children to the elderly, were in the church at the time. eta link

Goddanmned bullshit!

There is no such fucking thing!

ETA:

The "small caliber handguns" were probably a .22 buckmark and a crosman CO2 pistol.

Quoted: dupe. www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=1&f=5&t=607379

I beg your forgiveness. I used the search feature, but failed to comb the GD.

My error.

Quoted: Why the fuck can't you carry in a church Legal in Idaho

In VA it's illegal to carry to a church unless you have "good and sufficient reason." What ever that may mean.

Concealed is concealed, and this plus the Fort Worth Church shooting, mentioned in the "On Sheep" article that has been posted here before, several years back is why I don't feel bad about carrying in church.


96Ag

Quoted: .... opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church ....

I always get a chuckle when I hear the following comments from certain individuals...

"i don't carry at the church, they are a place of worship, who'd think of shooting the place"...

"i felt guilty for shooting someone"...

All I can say is,

Ignorance is bliss, not everybody lives out, life as you do, some are fine with killing other 2 legged critters without even thinking of what the consequences of it provided you are within your moral right to do so and what you think is necessary for your own personal justice.

I always carry in church,hell I always carry.

You can carry in a church in Missouri

This is why I carry in church, and don't attend Spanish only mass.

Quoted: Why the fuck can't you carry in a church Legal in Idaho

legal in Texas