Search warrant sheds new light on motive in Springfield Kum & Go shooting

A recent search warrant indicates the man who opened fire at a Springfield Kum & Go in March might have been dealing with mental health issues.

Police say Joaquin Roman, 31, killed four people — including a police officer — injured two others and took his own life in the March 15 shooting, but the department has said little publicly about a possible motive for the attack.

A warrant from May that gave police access to Roman's email account indicates Roman's mother had concerns about his mental health leading up to the shooting.

The warrant says Roman's mother told police he had talked to her about mental health issues and said he was worried he had been "infiltrated." He also allegedly questioned his mother about her being "infiltrated."

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Roman's mother told police she spoke with her son on the phone at about 11 p.m. on March 15, just minutes before police believe the shootings began.

According to the warrant, Roman's mother was concerned enough about his mental health that she planned on traveling from her home in another state to visit Roman in Springfield the next day, but she did not get that opportunity.

Springfield police say they had no contact with Roman before the March 15 shooting, and he had no prior arrests for violent behavior. He moved to Springfield from California within the last few years.

Jayme Gilson, a Kum & Go employee who was shot fives times by Roman but survived, surmised that Roman was having a "psychotic break" on the night of March 15.

Gilson told the News-Leader that Roman gave a speech about being disrespected throughout his life and wanting to inflict pain on others, but the speech was half-gibberish and the shooter had a blank look in his eyes.

The warrant says Roman had searched online for "mental illness" and "tactical shooting" a few days before the attack.

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Police say Roman acted as a "roving active shooter" as he traveled through Springfield's east side firing from his car late at night on March 15 before crashing out at the Kum & Go on East Chestnut Expressway, where he opened fire on victims inside and outside the store with an SKS 7.62-caliber rifle.

The deceased victims were identified as 32-year-old Officer Christopher Walsh and civilians Troy Rapp, 57, Shannon Perkins, 46, and Matthew Hicks-Morris, 22. Gilson and Officer Josiah Overton were shot but lived.

In addition to the email search, police also obtained warrants to look through Roman's apartment and social media accounts as they try to piece together a possible motive for the attack.

Donations can be made to Officer Walsh's family members through a fund at Metro Credit Union at 447 S. Campbell Ave. in Springfield or online at SPOAReliefFund.com.

Kum & Go has also set up a relief fund for the victims' families through the Community Foundation of the Ozarks.