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empallinGunman "Snapped," Father Says
Penny Owen, Steve Lackmeyer 05/10/1995
John Muchow was working his way through college at a pipe company and was
majoring in business administration.
His father says there was no indication that tragedy was on the horizon as John
discussed starting his own company Sunday night.
But over the next 24 hours, police and loved ones say something went terribly
wrong.
"His mind snapped," Doug Muchow said of his 22-year-old son Tuesday. "He was
raised 1 right. He was a young person, and he had problems, but we had no
indications of anything like this. "
Police say Muchow went into the home of his best friend, Jamilyn Banks, 19, and
shot her and her boyfriend, David Dickinson, 22, late Sunday or early Monday.
Muchow then entered the back door to Moore's Steak and Pancake House about 2
p.m. Monday and asked to see his estranged 17-year-old girlfriend, Andrea Moore.
Muchow said nothing to the girl; he opened fire with the same .380-caliber
handgun used to kill Banks and Dickinson.
A shot hit Moore in the head and she died soon after. More shots were fired,
seriously wounding Moore's mother, Mona, 41. Muchow fired once more, killing
himself.
Investigators believe the killing spree might have been sparked by the recent
breakup between John Muchow and Andrea Moore.
Muchow was attending Oklahoma City Community College. Andrea Moore was
about to graduate from Westmoore High School and was working in her family's
southside restaurant - started by her grandfather in 1953.
"They had been dating on and off for some time," Sgt. Bill Martin said. "They had
broken up again a couple of weeks ago and there is some indication he was upset
over that. " Doug Muchow said he is especially puzzled as to why his son killed
Banks, who was like a sister to him. The Banks family described their daughter's
killer as a "good guy" who was welcome in their home, but who also was
desperate to start a relationship.
"I know he wanted a girlfriend real, real bad," said Jamilyn Banks' mother, Sandy.
"I know he wanted Jami as a girlfriend. "
Jamilyn Banks wasn't interested in that kind of relationship with him, her parents
said, and they speculate Muchow was jealous of Jamilyn's relationship with
Dickinson.
Sandy and Hershel Banks hold no anger against Muchow after discovering with
police the bodies of their daughter and her boyfriend in the couple's home at 1605
NW 8 about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The Banks had gone to tell their daughter that Muchow had killed himself after
shooting the Moores at their restaurant Monday afternoon.
"I wanted to tell her because I knew it would hurt her so bad," Sandy Banks said.
"There was no answer at the door and their daughter's car was in the 1 driveway.
She did not go to work that day. " The Banks checked a local restaurant - the
couple's hangout - and then called the police. Tim Howard, their friend, joined
them, and he broke a window and climbed in.
"That's when we found them in the bed," her father Hershel Banks said, crying,
"Oh, it was a horrible sight. "
Tim Howard described himself as being "best friends" with all three victims. He
called Muchow "a normal, average, everyday person. "
"He always thought logically," Howard said. "John never acted like he was going to
go off on anybody. "
Howard said Muchow felt that Andrea Moore treated him badly and had once
threatened to kill her, her mother and himself.
Muchow was upset with Moore's mother, Mona Moore, because she objected to her
daughter's relationship with him and wouldn't reveal her daughter's whereabouts
when Muchow was looking for her, Howard said.
Howard said the two were involved in a stormy relationship for at least a year.
During that time, Muchow's friends avoided the couple.
Banks and her boyfriend, Dickinson, had moved into their two-story rent home
about six months ago.
The landlord, Scott Andrews, said they paid their rent on time and were good,
friendly tenants.
"He was a nice guy. He never tried to hurt anybody," he said.
© The Oklahoma Publishing Co. and its subsidiary, Connect Oklahoma Inc.
Article may be downloaded for personal use or research but not for distribution.
PHOTOS may not be downloaded without written permission from The Oklahoma
Publishing Co.
[i am going to need this for two different things and i thinkk i am not the only one who is going to need it]
Penny Owen, Steve Lackmeyer 05/10/1995
John Muchow was working his way through college at a pipe company and was
majoring in business administration.
His father says there was no indication that tragedy was on the horizon as John
discussed starting his own company Sunday night.
But over the next 24 hours, police and loved ones say something went terribly
wrong.
"His mind snapped," Doug Muchow said of his 22-year-old son Tuesday. "He was
raised 1 right. He was a young person, and he had problems, but we had no
indications of anything like this. "
Police say Muchow went into the home of his best friend, Jamilyn Banks, 19, and
shot her and her boyfriend, David Dickinson, 22, late Sunday or early Monday.
Muchow then entered the back door to Moore's Steak and Pancake House about 2
p.m. Monday and asked to see his estranged 17-year-old girlfriend, Andrea Moore.
Muchow said nothing to the girl; he opened fire with the same .380-caliber
handgun used to kill Banks and Dickinson.
A shot hit Moore in the head and she died soon after. More shots were fired,
seriously wounding Moore's mother, Mona, 41. Muchow fired once more, killing
himself.
Investigators believe the killing spree might have been sparked by the recent
breakup between John Muchow and Andrea Moore.
Muchow was attending Oklahoma City Community College. Andrea Moore was
about to graduate from Westmoore High School and was working in her family's
southside restaurant - started by her grandfather in 1953.
"They had been dating on and off for some time," Sgt. Bill Martin said. "They had
broken up again a couple of weeks ago and there is some indication he was upset
over that. " Doug Muchow said he is especially puzzled as to why his son killed
Banks, who was like a sister to him. The Banks family described their daughter's
killer as a "good guy" who was welcome in their home, but who also was
desperate to start a relationship.
"I know he wanted a girlfriend real, real bad," said Jamilyn Banks' mother, Sandy.
"I know he wanted Jami as a girlfriend. "
Jamilyn Banks wasn't interested in that kind of relationship with him, her parents
said, and they speculate Muchow was jealous of Jamilyn's relationship with
Dickinson.
Sandy and Hershel Banks hold no anger against Muchow after discovering with
police the bodies of their daughter and her boyfriend in the couple's home at 1605
NW 8 about 3 a.m. Tuesday.
The Banks had gone to tell their daughter that Muchow had killed himself after
shooting the Moores at their restaurant Monday afternoon.
"I wanted to tell her because I knew it would hurt her so bad," Sandy Banks said.
"There was no answer at the door and their daughter's car was in the 1 driveway.
She did not go to work that day. " The Banks checked a local restaurant - the
couple's hangout - and then called the police. Tim Howard, their friend, joined
them, and he broke a window and climbed in.
"That's when we found them in the bed," her father Hershel Banks said, crying,
"Oh, it was a horrible sight. "
Tim Howard described himself as being "best friends" with all three victims. He
called Muchow "a normal, average, everyday person. "
"He always thought logically," Howard said. "John never acted like he was going to
go off on anybody. "
Howard said Muchow felt that Andrea Moore treated him badly and had once
threatened to kill her, her mother and himself.
Muchow was upset with Moore's mother, Mona Moore, because she objected to her
daughter's relationship with him and wouldn't reveal her daughter's whereabouts
when Muchow was looking for her, Howard said.
Howard said the two were involved in a stormy relationship for at least a year.
During that time, Muchow's friends avoided the couple.
Banks and her boyfriend, Dickinson, had moved into their two-story rent home
about six months ago.
The landlord, Scott Andrews, said they paid their rent on time and were good,
friendly tenants.
"He was a nice guy. He never tried to hurt anybody," he said.
© The Oklahoma Publishing Co. and its subsidiary, Connect Oklahoma Inc.
Article may be downloaded for personal use or research but not for distribution.
PHOTOS may not be downloaded without written permission from The Oklahoma
Publishing Co.
[i am going to need this for two different things and i thinkk i am not the only one who is going to need it]
