Man kills six family members before taking his own life in Iowa shooting incident

A man in the US state of Iowa shot and killed six members of his own family before dying by suicide, in a violent incident that has shocked the small river city of Muscatine, local authorities said.

According to an initial statement by the Muscatine Police Department, the shooting appears to have stemmed from a domestic dispute, although investigators said the exact motive remains under investigation.

Police said officers responded to reports of gunfire and found four bodies inside a residence, all of whom had been shot dead. The suspected gunman had already fled the scene by the time police arrived.

Authorities later identified the suspect as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland. He was tracked down near a bridge along a riverbank within the city.

When officers attempted to engage him, he fatally shot himself, police said.

Following his death, further searches revealed two additional victims. One body was found at a nearby home, while another was discovered at a commercial property, bringing the total death toll to six.

Police said all of the victims were believed to be members of the suspect’s family, though formal identifications have not yet been released. A US television report said at least two of the victims were children.

Officials also confirmed that the suspect had a prior criminal record, though they did not provide further details.

Muscatine, a small riverside city with a population of around 24,000, is located about 155 miles east of Des Moines, the capital of Iowa.