Six dead in Iowa family shooting

A 52-year-old man fatally shot six people during a Monday shooting spree in the city of Muscatine in southeastern Iowa. Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies identified the suspected shooter as Ryan Willis McFarland during a Monday press conference. The shooting stemmed from a domestic incident, and all the victims were related to the shooter, Kies added.

Police were first called to a house around noon local time and found four individuals with fatal gunshot wounds, Kies said. Police tracked the shooter to a trail near a bridge and started talking with the suspect when McFarland took his own life, according to Kies. Police received information suggesting that there may be additional shooting victims, prompting officers to check two additional locations, Kies said.

Investigators found a man dead from apparent gunshot wounds inside a home about 2 miles away from the initial scene, Kies said. Police located another man fatally shot inside a business about a half-mile down from the second crime scene discovered by police.

What do we know about the victims? Muscatine School District Superintendent Clint Christopher said the victims included two district employees and two students, according to a Monday night statement. The police chief said the shooter had a criminal record prior to the shooting, but declined to elaborate.