In a statement to the press, Police Chief Anthony Kies called the shooting an “act of evil”, seemingly caused by a domestic dispute. All six victims were family members of the killer, 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland.
Law enforcement and emergency responders received the initial emergency call reporting a shooting at a residence in Muscatine, about 80 kilometres southeast of Cedar Rapids. Upon entering the home, police officers discovered four individuals dead from gunshot wounds.
Police located the suspect, McFarland, a short time later. However, as they tried to speak to him, McFarland turned the gun on himself and died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. “While talking to Ryan Willis McFarland, he took his own life,” said Kies at the press conference.
More victims found later
As the investigation progressed, detectives found evidence of two additional crime scenes. Officers subsequently discovered two more adult male victims, killed by apparent gunshot wounds at separate locations in the city.
While authorities have not yet formally released the exact names and ages of all the deceased individuals, the Muscatine Community School District released a statement citing a profound impact on the local school system. Two of the victims were current district students, and two were district employees.
Meanwhile, public court records reveal that McFarland had a significant prior criminal history: in 2012, he pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in death following an incident at a day-care centre, which also cost him his day-care licence. In 2016, he faced several felony charges involving vehicle odometer tampering, which resulted in habitual offender status and a court order to pay over $58,000 (€51,000) in restitution.