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Church Massacre Stuns Missouri Immigrants

Micronesian community asks why after home- grown crime kills 3

By Sam Gale Rosen,  Newser Staff

Posted Aug 14, 2007 8:15 AM CDT
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(Newser) – The Micronesian community in a small Missouri town is struggling to come to grips with a brutal crime by one of its own. Eiken Elam Saimon ran into a Micronesian church service and opened fire, killing three and wounding five. About 300 Pacific Islanders live in the town of Neosho, where they migrated beginning in the 1990s.

The killer reportedly yelled, "Liar, liar," as he fired, and appeared to deliberately target leaders of the congregation. Police have so far declined to discuss a motive, though Saimon is also a suspect in the unrelated sexual assault of a minor. "This guy ruined the Micronesians' name in America," says another member of the local Islander community.

Eiken Elam Saimon, left, is escorted out of the courtroom at hiswld arraignment by a member of the Newton County Sheriff's Department Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Neosho. Saimon is accused of opening fire inside of a church on Sunday, killing three people and wounding five others during a worship...
Eiken Elam Saimon, left, is escorted out of the courtroom at hiswld arraignment by a member of the Newton County Sheriff's Department Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Neosho. Saimon is accused of opening fire...   (Associated Press)
Eiken Elam Saimon sits at the defense table during his arraignment Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Neosho, Mo. Saimon is accused of opening fire inside of a church on Sunday, killing three people and wounding five others during a worship service of a mostly Micronesian congregation. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, pool)
Eiken Elam Saimon sits at the defense table during his arraignment Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Neosho, Mo. Saimon is accused of opening fire inside of a church on Sunday, killing three people and wounding...   (Associated Press)
A memorial wreath stands in front of the First Congregational Church in Neosho, Mo., Monday, Aug. 13, 2007. A shooting at the church Sunday left three dead and five injured. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)
A memorial wreath stands in front of the First Congregational Church in Neosho, Mo., Monday, Aug. 13, 2007. A shooting at the church Sunday left three dead and five injured. (AP Photo/Orlin Wagner)   (Associated Press)
Lou Rehobson-Manuel, the sister of Kernal Rehobson, pauses as she talks about her brother at his home Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Goodman, Mo. Friends and family are struggling to understand why a church service led by Kernal Rehobson was interrupted by a barrage of gunfire killing him and two...
Lou Rehobson-Manuel, the sister of Kernal Rehobson, pauses as she talks about her brother at his home Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Goodman, Mo. Friends and family are struggling to understand why a church...   (Associated Press)
Wanda Parsons, left, hugs Kelson Rehobson, the brother of Kernal Rehobson, Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Goodman, Mo. Friends and family are struggling to understand why a gunman would interrupt a church service led by Kernal Rehobson with a barrage of gunfire killing him and two other people and five...
Wanda Parsons, left, hugs Kelson Rehobson, the brother of Kernal Rehobson, Monday, Aug. 13, 2007, in Goodman, Mo. Friends and family are struggling to understand why a gunman would interrupt a church...   (Associated Press)
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church • Missouri • Neosho • Micronesians • immigrant • Micronesia • Eiken Elam Saimon • shooting • guns

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