Joplin man who shot three people, two service dogs found not guilty by reason of insanity

A Joplin man who shot five people and two comfort dogs, including three people in an Immanuel Lutheran Church van August 13, 2016, was found not guilty by reason of insanity, according to a KOAM report.

The shootings committed by Tom Mourning were described in an August 2016 Joplin Police Department news release:

August 13, 2016, at 5:08 AM, Joplin Police responded to 1810 Connecticut Ave. in reference to a report of a subject shooting at that location.

There were four victims injured by gunshots and one victim struck by shrapnel. A suspect has been arrested.

Joplin Officers located a possible suspect vehicle southbound on Connecticut Ave. As they were preparing to engage in a vehicle stop, officers reported hearing shots being fired from the suspect vehicle.

The sole occupant and operator of the vehicle fired shots striking victims at 32nd St. and Connecticut Ave. The officers engaged in pursuit of the suspect during which the suspect fired additional shots at victims near 32nd St. and Texas Ave.

At 5:22 AM, the pursuit ended at 32nd St. and Pearl Ave. where the suspect submitted to arrest without further resistance.

At 32nd St. and Connecticut Ave. a van was stopped at a traffic signal. As the suspect traveled through the intersection he fired multiple rounds. Three adult victims were injured as a result of either direct gunfire and/or shrapnel. These victims were transported to a local hospital. (The van was an Immanuel Lutheran Church van. One victim is listed as critical but stable, one victim is listed as serious but stable and the third victim has been released.)

The suspect continued driving east onto Connecticut Ave. Near 32nd St. and Texas Ave., the suspect fired multiple rounds at an oncoming, westbound vehicle. One victim-driver was struck by rounds and the victim-passenger was struck by shrapnel.

The suspect turned around and continued fleeing westbound on 32nd St. At 32nd St. and Pearl Ave., the suspect turned north onto Pearl Ave. In the area of 30th St. and Pearl Ave. the suspect exited his slowly moving vehicle and submitted to arrest without further resistance.

The suspect vehicle continued in motion until it struck a parked vehicle. At 5:22, Tom S. Mourning II, 26, Joplin, Mo. was arrested The motivation for this event has yet to be determined. 

Police recovered a rifle and a handgun. There does not appear to be any relationship between the suspect and the victims. We are asking anyone with any information regarding this event to please contact the Joplin Police Department at 417-623-3131. 

The Joplin Police Department extends our appreciation to the Jasper County Sheriff’s Office, the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, Missouri State Highway Patrol, Duquesne Police Department, the Joplin Fire Department and Metro Emergency Response System (METS) Ambulance Service for their assistance during this event.

Mourning had been charged with five counts of first degree assault, five counts of armed criminal action and three counts of unlawful use of a weapon.