On December 13, 2024, a tragic incident unfolded in Panama City, Florida, resulting in the death of 40-year-old Joshua Johns. The events began with a domestic dispute between 67-year-old Newell Mock and his wife, Rhonda, in their Gulf County home. During the altercation, Mock armed himself with a handgun, prompting Rhonda to flee the residence in fear.
Subsequently, Mock took his wife's car and phone and drove to the SweetBay neighborhood residence of Rhonda's daughter, Jessica Johns, and her husband, Joshua.
Upon arrival, Mock forcefully entered the Johns' home, where Jessica and Joshua were present with their two young children, aged 5 and 7, who were asleep upstairs. Without hesitation, Mock opened fire, striking both Jessica and Joshua multiple times. Emergency services were alerted, and Panama City Police officers arrived approximately two and a half minutes after being dispatched. They found Mock seated on the front porch, still armed. Despite attempts to de-escalate the situation, Mock refused to engage in dialogue and fatally shot himself. Officers did not discharge their weapons during the incident.
Inside the residence, officers discovered Joshua Johns deceased and Jessica critically injured. Immediate life-saving measures were administered to Jessica before she was transported to a local hospital for further treatment. The couple's children were found unharmed and asleep upstairs. Officers, along with a volunteer chaplain, stayed with the children until family members could be located to care for them.
Investigations suggest that Mock's actions were a targeted attack stemming from his inability to direct his anger toward his wife, leading him to harm her family instead. Panama City Police Chief Mark Smith indicated that alcohol might have been a contributing factor in Mock's behavior. In the aftermath, the community has rallied to support the Johns family. A GoFundMe campaign organized by Jessica's sister, Molly Vise, has raised over $99,000 to assist with medical bills, funeral expenses, and other household needs as Jessica recovers.
This tragic event has left the Panama City community in mourning, highlighting the devastating impact of domestic disputes and the far-reaching consequences they can have on families and communities.
