A series of shootings across Muscatine, Iowa, on Monday left seven people dead, including the suspected gunman, in what police described as a domestic dispute.
Officers responding to a reported shooting just after noon found four victims dead from gunshot wounds inside a home. As the investigation unfolded, detectives discovered two more male victims fatally shot—one at a separate residence and another at a nearby business.
The Muscatine Police Department identified the suspect as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland. All six victims are believed to be his family members.
McFarland had fled the initial crime scene before officers arrived. Authorities tracked him to a riverfront trail near a pedestrian bridge, where he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound despite receiving emergency medical aid.
Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies described the violence as an "act of evil" and confirmed McFarland had a prior criminal record, though he declined to provide further details. Authorities have withheld the victims' names and ages while the active investigation continues.
"Preliminary findings indicate the shootings stemmed from a domestic-related dispute," the police department said in a statement.
Muscatine Mayor Brad Bark expressed his condolences on Facebook, stating, "Our hearts are heavy tonight after the tragic shootings that claimed innocent lives."
Muscatine, a city of approximately 23,500 residents, is located on the Mississippi River in southeastern Iowa.
