After Fighting with Wife, Man Shoots Her Daughter and Kills Son-In-Law to 'Hurt' Her, Authorities Say

12/20/2024 12:34 AM

"Officers attempted to de-escalate [Newell] Mock, but he refused to engage in dialogue before fatally shooting himself," said the Panama City Police Department

After getting into an argument with his wife, a man shot her daughter and killed her son-in-law before dying of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Panama City, Fla. police said on Monday, Dec. 16.

According to a press release from the Panama City Police Department, the murder-suicide took place on Friday, Dec. 13, after Newell Mock, 67, had a domestic dispute with his wife, Rhonda Mock, 65.

Police say that after Rhonda fled their home, Mock traveled to the house of Rhonda's daughter, Jessica Johns.

When he arrived, Jessica was home with her husband, Joshua Johns, and their children, ages 5 and 7, who were asleep upstairs.

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Mock allegedly entered the residence with force and "immediately" engaged the couple with gunfire, "striking each of them several times."

The department says that after the shooting was reported to 911, officers arrived approximately 2.5 minutes after being dispatched and found Mock "sitting on the front porch, still armed with a handgun."

"Officers attempted to de-escalate Mock, but he refused to engage in dialogue before fatally shooting himself," the press release reads, noting that Mock did not threaten the officers, and officers discharged no weapons.

After getting access inside the home, officers found Joshua deceased and Jessica "critically wounded."

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Jessica was rendered first aid before being transported to a hospital where she is currently recovering from "serious injuries," according to a GoFundMe created by her sister Molly Vise.

Vise adds in the fundraiser that "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."

She remembered Joshua as a "loving husband, father, and friend," whose sudden death "has created an immense void in our hearts, and our family is struggling with profound grief."

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While the case remains under investigation, Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith said in a video shared by WJHG on Dec. 16 that Mock's "anger was really directed at his wife, but when he couldn't expel that anger towards her, he decided to hurt her family, in order to hurt her."

PEOPLE has reached out to the Panama City Police Department for comment.

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline by dialing 988, text "STRENGTH" to the Crisis Text Line at 741741 or go to 988lifeline.org.