Gulf County man linked to murder suicide

A Gulf County man killed one man in Panama City, and seriously injured his wife late Friday evening, before turning the gun on himself.

According to a news release from the Panama City Police Department, the department received multiple calls shortly before midnight on Friday, Dec. 13 reporting shots fired at a residence in the SweetBay neighborhood.

Upon their arrival two-and-one-half minutes after being dispatched, officers made contact with Newell Mock III, 67, St. Joe Beach, who was 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. Mock did not threaten the officers, and no officers discharged their weapon,” read the release.

After securing the scene, officers entered the home and discovered two victims, Joshua Johns, 40, deceased, and wife Jessica Johns, 40, critically wounded, as well as their 5 and 7-year-old children asleep upstairs, unharmed. Officers rendered life-saving aid to the wife, who was transported to a local hospital. Officers and a volunteer chaplain remained with the children until family members could be brought to the residence to care for them.

“The investigation has determined that Mock was the sole shooter in this incident,” read the release. 

The investigation has revealed that Mock had earlier been involved in a domestic dispute in Gulf County, after which he armed himself with a handgun, which led to his wife, 65-year-old Rhonda Mock, to flee from the home in fear.

Mock then traveled to the home of Rhonda’s daughter in the SweetBay neighborhood, forcefully entered the residence and immediately engaged the Johns with gunfire, striking each of them several times.

“The Panama City Police Department would like to thank the citizens who aided officers in the middle of the night by reviewing their surveillance cameras and providing statements, as well as general information about the family to facilitate the investigation,” read the release. “The Panama City Police Department has provided support and resources to the victims (but is) not affiliated with any fundraising efforts (and) has no control over the use of donated funds.”

On the GoFundMe page Community Support for the Johns Family here, Jessica’s sister Molly Vise, wrote that her sister was recovering from serious injuries sustained during the incident.

As of press time, the fundraising effort had raised over $77,000 to cover the funeral expenses of Joshua Johns, and the medical expenses of his wife Jessica, as well as for the care of their two children.