Police identify Ryan Willis McFarland in 6 deaths in Muscatine Iowa
Police in muscatine iowa said six family members were found dead Monday afternoon before the suspected gunman, Ryan Willis McFarland, shot himself while talking to officers. Chief Anthony Kies identified McFarland as the 52-year-old Muscatine man at the center of the investigation.
Officers were called to a home at 210 Park Ave. about noon and found four people dead from gunshot wounds there. During the initial response, police learned there may be more victims, and later found another man dead in the 1500 block of Mill Street and one more in the 800 block of Grandview Avenue.
Anthony Kies and Park Ave.
Kies said the preliminary investigation indicates the deaths were part of a domestic incident and that the people killed are believed to be family of McFarland. Police said McFarland fled the scene and was later located on Riverfront Trail near the pedestrian bridge, where he fatally shot himself while talking to police.
The Muscatine Police Department is being assisted by the Muscatine Fire Department, the Muscatine County Sheriff’s Office, the Iowa State Patrol and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. Law enforcement asked the public to avoid the riverfront area near Park Avenue because of the investigation.
Muscatine Community School District
The Muscatine Community School District said two of the victims were district employees and two were current students. In a statement released Monday evening, the district said, "It is with profound sadness that we share news of a tragic incident that occurred Monday afternoon in our community involving the McFarland family," and said counselors and support resources would be available starting at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Those resources were scheduled to be available at Muscatine High School, Susan Clark Junior High, Madison Elementary, McKinley Elementary and Franklin Elementary. The district response puts the loss inside the school community as police continue an active investigation across multiple crime scenes in Muscatine.
