A GUNMAN opened fire in the sanctuary of a southwest Missouri church Sunday, killing a pastor and two worshippers and wounding several others, authorities said.

One of the victims was Kernal Rehobson, 44, who led the local congregation of predominantly Micronesian worshippers holding the service at the First Congregational Church, police said.

The other two victims were male members of the congregation, who were “what we would call deacons,” said Dave McCracken, Neosho police chief. Their names were not released because relatives were still being notified.

The gunman ordered all the children out of the church before he started shooting and briefly held between 25 to 50 people hostage before surrendering, McCracken said.

At least five people were wounded, McCracken said. But he said others who were injured may have fled before police secured the church. Police have been told that the five who were injured will recover, he said.

Rehobson was shot multiple times and was dead at the scene, Newton County Coroner Mark Bridges said.

Rehobson had led the group of Micronesians for about 15 years and ran a Micronesian store out of his house in Goodman, Larry Zuniga, who worked with Rehobson at Wal-Mart, told reporters.

The congregation used to meet at Rehobson’s house and was using the First Congregational Church for worship while it searched for a permanent home, Zuniga said.(SD-Agencies)