A shooting left six people dead in Muscatine, in the state of Iowa, on Monday. Suspect Ryan Willis McFarland, 52, was identified by police as the person responsible for shooting family members. Ele took his own life when approached by officers. Duas of the victims were students and two worked in the city’s school district.
The case began around 12:12 pm local time, when police received a call to a residence near the Mississippi river. Agentes found four bodies with gunshot wounds at the scene. The suspect had already left the house.
Suspeito identified and confronted by police
Oficiais located Ryan Willis McFarland on a trail in Riverfront Trail, near a pedestrian bridge. Enquanto were talking to him, the man committed suicide. Emergency Equipes provided aid, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.
The investigation showed that the shots hit members of the same family. Muscatine police classified the episode as related to a domestic dispute. Não there are signs of a continued threat to the population.
Vítimas include students and school staff
Authorities identified the six victims Tuesday night during a vigil. They were Lesa McFarland, 51; Dakota Whitlow, 32; Austin Harris, 29; Ryle McFarland, 20; Mark McFarland, 16; and Ryan McFarland Jr., 13.
Muscatine Community School District superintendent Clint Christopher confirmed that two students and two district employees were among the dead. The tragedy directly affected the routine of schools in the region.
- Lesa McFarland, 51 years old
- Dakota Whitlow, 32 years old
- Austin Harris, 29 years old
- Ryle McFarland, 20 years old
- Mark McFarland, 16 years old
- Ryan McFarland Jr., 13 years old
Corpos found in three different locations
The police expanded the search after the first response. Dois other men, also related to McFarland, were found dead in separate locations. One was inside another residence, about 3 kilometers from the first address. The second body appeared at a nearby commercial establishment.
Investigators worked with support from the state’s Muscatine County Sheriff, Patrulha Estadual Patrulha Estadual and Divisão Investigação Criminal. The bodies were located along areas close to the Mississippi River.
Comunidade holds vigil and schools offer support
Moradores gathered on Tuesday night at Muscatine High School’s stadium to pay their respects. Local Autoridades, teachers and family members participated in the event. Christopher described the impact on the city’s classrooms, hallways and homes.
The school district has made counselors available at several locations, including Muscatine High, Susan Clark Junior High and elementary schools. The network serves thousands of students in the region of around 23 thousand inhabitants.
Suspect’s Histórico
Registros Courts show that Ryan Willis McFarland had a criminal history, including charges of child endangerment and neglect. Police did not elaborate further on the history during the first press conferences. The investigation into the exact reason for the domestic dispute continues.