KPress Vol. 07 Iss. 19

Jaynes, Bill (2007-08-22). KPress Vol. 07 Iss. 19 (PDF) (Report). Kolonia, Pohnpei: Kaselehlie Press.

• Has attachment: File:GD9F58VN.pdf

Abstract: KPress Vol. 07 Iss. 19: NEWS: Eiken (Aiken) Elam Saimon charged in the shooting deaths of three; Saimon had previously been charged in at least one earlier shooting; on Sunday, June 12, in Neosho, Missouri, just before 2:00 in the afternoon, the actions of one man violently ended the lives of three respected Pingelapese Pohnpeians, wounded five others, and shattered the sense of peace and safety that two communities thousands of miles apart believed they could rely on; Senior Pastor Kernal Rehobson was the first to be shot and killed, followed by Pastor Intenson Rehobson, Kernal’s uncle, who according to reports attempted to calm the situation but was instead shot and killed; Associate Pastor Kuhpesesse Ikosiam was the third victim killed in the incident; according to news reports, before surrendering the shooter—who was carrying both a small-caliber handgun and a 9 mm handgun along with extra ammunition—wounded five additional individuals; early reports indicated five people were injured, though only four victims appeared on the list of charges: Jim Handy, Melihna Tarra, Dahnny Jack, and Kendey Handy; the gunman reportedly surrounded himself with hostages and held off police for approximately ten minutes before surrendering; Aiken Elam Saimon of Pohnpei was charged in connection with the crimes; background reporting notes that the United Church of Christ Pohnpei, Missouri—so named because the majority of its congregation is from Pohnpei—began in Kernal Rehobson’s home in Goodman, Missouri, and that three years earlier Rehobson approached Reverend Tom Thorne, pastor of the First Congregational Church of Neosho, and received permission to use the church building on Sunday afternoons after the congregation outgrew his home.