Police said the attacks unfolded at three locations before the suspect died near a riverfront trail.
MUSCATINE, Iowa — A domestic-related shooting in Muscatine left six family members dead Monday before the suspected gunman, Ryan Willis McFarland, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police said.
The deaths spread grief across the city and into the local school district, where officials said two employees and two students were among the victims. Police said they were still confirming the order of events, the family relationships and the evidence from each site. The victims’ names had not been made public by Tuesday morning.
The first call came at about 12:12 p.m. Monday for a shooting at 210 Park Avenue. Officers and emergency medical workers arrived and found four people dead inside the home. Police then received information that led them to two more scenes. One adult man was found dead inside a home at 1509 Mill Street. Another adult man was found dead at a business at 808 Grandview Avenue. Police said both had apparent gunshot wounds.
Investigators identified McFarland, 52, as the suspected shooter. Officers found him near a riverfront walking trail after the first victims were discovered. Police said he shot himself as officers confronted him. Emergency medical crews tried to save him, but he died at the scene. Chief Anthony Kies said the shootings appeared to stem from a domestic dispute, though police had not released the specific conflict that preceded the violence.
Kies called the killings an “act of evil” during a briefing and said the department was handling a complex case with several locations and many grieving relatives. Police said McFarland had a criminal record, but officials did not list the past cases during the early briefing. Detectives were processing the homes, the business and the area near the trail for physical evidence. They were also interviewing witnesses and reviewing the movements of the suspect and victims.
The Muscatine Community School District confirmed the school connection Monday evening. Superintendent Clint Christopher said the district was mourning the deaths of two staff members and two students. He said the loss reached family members, friends, co-workers and classmates. The district did not release names or ages. Police also did not say whether any children were among the victims found at the Park Avenue home.
The case brought a large emergency response to a city better known for its riverfront and manufacturing history than mass violence. Patrol cars and investigators moved between the Park Avenue home, the Mill Street residence, the Grandview Avenue business and the riverfront area. Officials asked people to avoid parts of the riverfront while the investigation continued. The locations showed how quickly the case expanded from one emergency call into a citywide homicide investigation.
Because McFarland is dead, prosecutors are not expected to bring charges against him. Police still must complete reports, gather forensic results and work with medical examiners on official causes and manners of death. Authorities also must decide what details can be released without harming the investigation or adding to the burden on families. Kies said the department would continue to provide updates as facts are confirmed.
By Tuesday, the main unanswered questions were the victims’ identities, the full family relationships, the exact timeline and the nature of the dispute police believe came before the shootings. Investigators said the public may still help fill gaps. The next milestone is the release of victim names and further findings from the active investigation.
Author note: Last updated June 2, 2026.