On March 15, 2020, a mass shooting occurred in Springfield, Missouri, United States. After firing indiscriminately from his vehicle at passers-by, 31-year-old Joaquin Roman shot and killed four people at a Kum & Go convenience store before committing suicide.
| 2020 Springfield, Missouri shooting | |
|---|---|
  Springfield Springfield (Missouri)  Springfield Springfield (the United States) | |
| Location | 2885 East Chestnut Expressway Springfield, Missouri, United States |
| Coordinates | 37°12′38″N 93°14′14″W / 37.21066°N 93.23709°W |
| Date | March 15, 2020 11:24 – 11:43 p.m. (CST) |
Attack type | Mass shooting, spree shooting, murder–suicide |
| Weapons | |
| Deaths | 5 (including the perpetrator) |
| Injured | 2 |
| Perpetrator | Joaquin S. Roman |
| Motive | Unknown |
Shooting
editBetween 11:24 p.m. and 11:43 p.m. CST, multiple emergency calls were made regarding a man in a black 2019 Volkswagen vehicle shooting at random vehicles in eastern Springfield.[1] The shooter drove northward before crashing his vehicle at a Kum & Go convenience store on East Chestnut Expressway.[2] He entered the store at 11:43 p.m. and opened fire on those inside, killing three and injuring one.[2] An employee who was wounded told the Springfield News-Leader that the shooter had a "psychotic break" and "gave a speech about being disrespected throughout his life and wanting to inflict pain on others".[3] One person inside the store survived by hiding from the gunman.[4] Officers Christopher Walsh and Josiah Overton of the Springfield Police Department were shot at in the parking lot as they responded to the shooting; Walsh was fatally wounded.[5] After other officers arrived at the scene, they discovered that the shooter had committed suicide.[5]
Victims
editThe victims inside the store were identified as 57-year-old employee Troy Rapp, 46-year-old waste management contractor Shannon Perkins, and 22-year-old customer Matthew Hicks-Morris. The police officer killed outside the store was 32-year-old Christopher Walsh.[5] Employee Jayne Gilson was shot five times but survived; he was initially hospitalized in critical condition, but was upgraded to stable condition on March 26.[3][6] Police officer Josiah Overton suffered non-life-threatening injuries.[6]
Investigation
editOn March 16, police served a search warrant at Roman's apartment in Springfield.[4] Due to concerns that the shooter had planted booby traps in his residence, a SWAT team used a Lenco BearCat to enter the apartment.[4] Police recovered accessories—including ammunition and magazines—for the SKS rifle and Glock pistol used in the attack.[4] Both firearms used in the shooting were legally acquired.[4] Items that were seized included an IPad, a computer, paperwork, and a counterfeit Social Security card.[4] Police are trying to determine a motive for the attack using Roman's electronic devices and other belongings.[4]
Perpetrator
editThe shooter was identified as 31-year-old Joaquin S. Roman.[2] Prior to the shooting, he had talked to his mother about being "infiltrated" and had searched online for "mental illness" and "tactical shooting".[3] Roman's mother had spoken to him by phone call shortly before the shootings began, and was planning to visit him from another state due to concerns about her son's mental health.[3] Roman had minor interactions with law enforcement, consisting of four traffic citations.[4] He had moved from California to Missouri in 2019.[3][7]
In Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016 - 2020, a 2023 report released by the United States Secret Service, Roman was described as holding "neo-Nazi and anti-government beliefs" which he expressed on social media.[8] He also used an unspecified social media platform to establish groups pertaining to his ideology.[8] In one group, he and another member "ranted about server administrators that did not tolerate neo-Nazism" and intended to livestream a campaign of online harassment against groups they felt opposed them.[8]
Response
editSpringfield mayor Ken McClure and Police Chief Paul Williams expressed their condolences to those affected by the shooting.[5] Following the shooting, Kum & Go created a relief fund for the families of the victims.[5]
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ Bridgeman, Megan; Keegan, Harrison (March 16, 2020). "Map: 911 calls and reports show Kum & Go shooter's path through Springfield". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on May 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c Diaz, Johnny (March 16, 2020). "Shooting at Missouri Gas Station Leaves 5 Dead, Including Police Officer and Attacker". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Keegan, Harrison (June 1, 2020). "Search warrant sheds new light on motive in Springfield Kum & Go shooting". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h Keegan, Harrison (April 8, 2020). "Search warrant reveals new information in Springfield Kum & Go shooting". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on March 19, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Keegan, Harrison (March 16, 2020). "Springfield police officer among 4 killed by active shooter, chief says". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on May 17, 2022. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ a b Keegan, Harrison (March 26, 2020). "Loved ones grieve in isolation after 4 killed at Springfield Kum & Go". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on January 28, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ Keegan, Harrison (March 17, 2020). "Motive still a mystery as Kum & Go shooting investigation continues". Springfield News-Leader. Archived from the original on July 2, 2022. Retrieved July 2, 2022.
- ^ a b c "Mass Attacks in Public Spaces: 2016 - 2020" (PDF). United States Secret Service. January 2023. Archived (PDF) from the original on March 20, 2023. Retrieved March 20, 2023.