Iowa Family Shooting
Iowa Shooting Spree Kills Seven, Including Gunman, in Apparent Domestic Dispute
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A shooting spree rooted in a domestic dispute left seven people dead across Muscatine, Iowa on Monday, June 1, 2026 — including the gunman, who took his own life. The suspect, identified as 52-year-old Ryan Willis McFarland, targeted family members at three separate locations before being confronted by police near the Mississippi River, according to Muscatine Police Department.
Police Chief Anthony Kies addressed the community in a press briefing, saying: "Today I simply do not have the words — this act of evil and what it has done to our community." Among the six victims, four were connected to the Muscatine Community School District — two students and two employees, according to WQAD News 8.
Three Crime Scenes Spread Across Muscatine in Hours
The violence began at 12:12 PM when a 911 call reported a shooting at 210 Park Avenue. Officers arrived within minutes and found four people dead from gunshot wounds. McFarland had already fled. Police identified him quickly and began tracking him across the city, according to WQAD News 8.
As the investigation expanded, police found two more victims. An adult male was found shot dead inside a home at 1509 Mill Street. A second adult male was found dead at Willits Metalworks, a business at 808 Grandview Avenue. All three shooting sites are within a 10-minute drive of each other, according to Ground News.
McFarland Kills Himself as Officers Move In
Officers tracked McFarland to the Riverfront Trail near a pedestrian bridge along the Mississippi River. As police approached and tried to speak with him, he turned the gun on himself. He was pronounced dead at the scene despite medical aid, Chief Kies said, according to KVNU.
McFarland had a serious criminal past. In 2012, he pleaded guilty to child endangerment resulting in death in Muscatine County. In 2016, he faced charges tied to tampering with records. How he accessed a firearm despite that history remains under investigation, according to KCJJ Radio.
Two Students and Two School Employees Among the Dead
MCSD Superintendent Clint Christopher confirmed the school district lost two students and two employees in the attack. "Our hearts are broken for the family members, friends, colleagues, classmates, and all those affected by this unimaginable loss," Christopher said, according to WQAD News 8. Counselors were deployed to five schools starting Tuesday morning.
The five schools receiving support are Muscatine High School, Susan Clark Junior High, and Madison, McKinley, and Franklin Elementary Schools. Muscatine has a population of about 24,000. One resident described the neighborhood near Park Avenue as "the quietest neighborhood I've ever lived in," according to Washington Examiner.
National Context: The 9th Mass Murder of 2026
The Gun Violence Archive classifies this as the 9th mass murder in the United States so far in 2026. A mass murder is defined as four or more people killed, not counting the shooter. The Guardian reported that 94% of such family killings are carried out by males, and firearms are used in 86% of cases.
Iowa law bars convicted felons from owning guns under Iowa Code § 724.26. Advocacy groups have flagged gaps in the state's domestic violence firearm laws for years. Iowa holds a "C" rating on gun safety from gun control advocates. The Muscatine Police Department is being assisted by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Iowa State Patrol, and the Muscatine County Sheriff's Office as the probe continues, according to bakersfieldnow.com.
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