Gunman kills seven family members, himself in US state of Iowa

Seven people, including a suspected gunman, were killed during a series of shootings on June 1 in Muscatine, a small US city in eastern Iowa, authorities said.

Police said the incident appears to have stemmed from a domestic-related dispute, though they have not disclosed what specifically triggered the violence. Muscatine is a riverside community of about 24,000 residents located on the Mississippi River, across from Illinois, Reuters reports.

According to the Muscatine Police Department, officers responding to reports of gunfire shortly after noon local time found four people shot dead inside a residence. The suspected shooter had fled the scene before police arrived.

He was later identified as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland of Muscatine. Police said he was located on a riverfront trail near a pedestrian bridge, where he died by suicide while officers were speaking with him.

Authorities later discovered two additional victims after receiving information suggesting further shootings had occurred. One victim was found in a nearby home and another at a local business. Police said all six victims were believed to be members of the suspect’s family.

The victims have not been publicly identified. Local media reported that at least two of those killed were children.

Police said McFarland had a prior criminal record but did not provide further details. The investigation is ongoing.

By Sabina Mammadli