At least six people have lost their lives in a shooting registered in the town of Muscatine, in the state of Iowa (USA). A 52-year-old man, a resident of the city, opened fire on several people in the context of an apparent family dispute and subsequently took his own life after being located by the Police.
The alleged perpetrator, identified by the authorities as Ryan Willis McFarland, 52 years old and a resident of Muscatine, allegedly first killed four people in the same residence around 12:12 PM local time (7:12 PM in peninsular Spain and the Balearic Islands), according to the Muscatine Police Department in a press conference broadcast by the American network ABC.
After leaving the house before the agents arrived, McFarland was located on a path near the Mississippi River. There, according to the police account, contact was made with the agents and the fatal outcome occurred. "While speaking with Ryan Willis McFarland, he committed suicide," explained Muscatine Police Chief Anthony Kies, who added that "officers and emergency personnel provided assistance, but he has been pronounced dead at the scene."
The investigation led the agents to suspect that there might be more victims, in addition to the four found in the first residence. Finally, the authorities located the bodies of two other men, who died from apparent gunshot wounds, in another residence and in a business located nearby.
Regarding the origin of the attack, the Muscatine Police indicated in a statement that "preliminary findings indicate that the shots originated from a domestic dispute" and that "all victims are believed to be relatives of the deceased suspect." Police Chief Anthony Kies also specified that the alleged shooter had no prior criminal record.