A gunman killed six family members on Monday and then himself when confronted by law enforcement in Muscatine, Iowa, police said.
Muscatine police identified 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland as the alleged shooter, with the killings occurring across multiple locations and believed to have stemmed from a domestic dispute.
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Police were first alerted to the shootings at around 12:20 p.m. on Monday. Officers found four deceased victims at one location and two others at two other locations. All were pronounced dead at the scene.
McFarland was found on a riverfront trail, where he shot himself after being confronted by authorities, according to police.
Andrew Blatt, executive director and general manager of PBS Iowa, noted on social media that the neighborhood where the killings took place “has been the quietest neighborhood I’ve ever lived in and great place to raise a family.”
“But scary situation with 25+ law enforcement vehicles and officer involved shooting a couple doors down,” he said in a post on X.
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Outpourings of condolences came quickly for the area, with Rep. Eric Sorensen (D-IL), who represents a district relatively close by, extending his support to Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks (R-IA), who represents the area.
“I am just sickened to learn of the tragedy today in Muscatine, Iowa. I reached out to Congresswoman Miller-Meeks and offered my condolences and support. We must find ways to settle our differences without the use of guns. I share my sorrow with everyone involved,” Sorensen said in a post on X.
