Eiken Elam Saimon
Encyclopedia
Eiken Elam Saimon is a man who has been charged by Missouri
with three counts of first-degree murder for opening fire on a church congregation in Neosho, Missouri
in 2007.
Saimon is a native of Pohnpei
and a national of the Federated States of Micronesia
; he was living in Neosho at the time of the shootings. Witnesses reported that on 12 August 2007, Saimon entered the First Congregational Church in Neosho during Sunday services. There were over 50 people attending the service, the majority being people from Neosho's Micronesian community. Police say Saimon carried two small-caliber handguns and a 9-millimeter semiautomatic machine pistol. After asking the children and some members of his own family to leave the room, Saimon began shooting at people in the church. Three people were killed: the pastor
of the church and two deacon
s. Police suspected that he targeted leaders of the church.
Saimon was arrested after five to ten minutes of negotiation between him and police. After his arrest, police announced that he was also being charged with the sexual assault
of a 14-year-old relative. The connection between the alleged sexual assault and the shooting incident was unclear.
A preliminary hearing was held on 18 September 2007, where Saimon pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, four counts of assault, one count of felonious restraint, and one count of armed criminal action. In September 2008, Saimon's trial was scheduled to begin in July 2009. By early 2009, prosecutors had not yet announced if they will seek the death penalty
for the murders in Saimon's case.
Missouri
Missouri is a US state located in the Midwestern United States, bordered by Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Kansas and Nebraska. With a 2010 population of 5,988,927, Missouri is the 18th most populous state in the nation and the fifth most populous in the Midwest. It...
with three counts of first-degree murder for opening fire on a church congregation in Neosho, Missouri
Neosho, Missouri
Neosho is the most populous city in and the county seat of Newton County, Missouri, United States. Neosho is an integral part of the Joplin, Missouri Metropolitan Statistical Area....
in 2007.
Saimon is a native of Pohnpei
Pohnpei
Not to be confused with Pompeii, the ancient city destroyed by Vesuvius in AD 79.Pohnpei "upon a stone altar " is the name of one of the four states in the Federated States of Micronesia , situated among the Senyavin Islands which are part of the larger Caroline Islands group...
and a national of the Federated States of Micronesia
Federated States of Micronesia
The Federated States of Micronesia or FSM is an independent, sovereign island nation, made up of four states from west to east: Yap, Chuuk, Pohnpei and Kosrae. It comprises approximately 607 islands with c...
; he was living in Neosho at the time of the shootings. Witnesses reported that on 12 August 2007, Saimon entered the First Congregational Church in Neosho during Sunday services. There were over 50 people attending the service, the majority being people from Neosho's Micronesian community. Police say Saimon carried two small-caliber handguns and a 9-millimeter semiautomatic machine pistol. After asking the children and some members of his own family to leave the room, Saimon began shooting at people in the church. Three people were killed: the pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of the church and two deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s. Police suspected that he targeted leaders of the church.
Saimon was arrested after five to ten minutes of negotiation between him and police. After his arrest, police announced that he was also being charged with the sexual assault
Sexual assault
Sexual assault is an assault of a sexual nature on another person, or any sexual act committed without consent. Although sexual assaults most frequently are by a man on a woman, it may involve any combination of two or more men, women and children....
of a 14-year-old relative. The connection between the alleged sexual assault and the shooting incident was unclear.
A preliminary hearing was held on 18 September 2007, where Saimon pleaded not guilty to three counts of murder, four counts of assault, one count of felonious restraint, and one count of armed criminal action. In September 2008, Saimon's trial was scheduled to begin in July 2009. By early 2009, prosecutors had not yet announced if they will seek the death penalty
Capital punishment
Capital punishment, the death penalty, or execution is the sentence of death upon a person by the state as a punishment for an offence. Crimes that can result in a death penalty are known as capital crimes or capital offences. The term capital originates from the Latin capitalis, literally...
for the murders in Saimon's case.