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An Iowa man is accused of shooting and killing six relatives before killing himself Monday, authorities said.
Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies said officers responded to a report of a shooting around 12:12 p.m. Monday at a home on Park Avenue in Muscatine, a city about 50 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids.
When the police arrived, they found four victims inside the house with gunshot wounds. All four were pronounced dead at the scene, said Kies in a press conference.
Investigators quickly identified the suspect as Ryan Willis McFarland, 52, of Muscatine. Police say McFarland left the area before police arrived.
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Law enforcement is investigating a crime scene in Muscatine, Iowa, after authorities say six members of a family were shot and killed. (WQAD via Reuters)
Authorities later found McFarland on the city’s riverwalk near the pedestrian bridge.
“When I was talking to Ryan Willis McFarland, he killed himself,” Kies said.
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Police and paramedics tried to help, but McFarland was pronounced dead at the scene.
As investigators continue to investigate the case, police have produced information that suggests there may be other victims elsewhere in the city.
Police are investigating after multiple people were found dead in separate locations in Muscatine, Iowa. (WQAD via Reuters)
Police later found an elderly man dead from a suspected gunshot wound at a residence on Mill Street. Investigators later found another elderly man dead from a gunshot wound at a business on Grandview Avenue.
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Police believe all six victims were members of the McFarland family.
“The initial investigation indicates that the shooting was the result of a domestic dispute,” said Kies.
Authorities have not publicly identified the victims or released details about their ages and special relationships with McFarland.
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The Muscatine Police Department is being assisted in the investigation by the Muscatine Fire Department, the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Investigators are working at the scene of a shooting in Muscatine, Iowa, that left six relatives dead, according to police. (WQAD via Reuters)
Kies called the killings “an act of evil” and said the community is mourning.
“Today, I have no words,” Kies said. “This is an act of evil that we have done in our community.”
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The chief confirmed that McFarland has a criminal record but declined to provide further details.
The investigation is ongoing as detectives continue to process multiple crime scenes and interview witnesses. Authorities are asking anyone with information about the incidents to contact the Muscatine Police Department’s Major Crimes Unit.
