A serious family tragedy has shaken the city of Muscatine, USA, where a 52-year-old man is suspected of killing six of his relatives before taking his own life.

According to authorities, the incident is believed to have occurred after a domestic dispute. Police were notified of gunshots and, upon arriving at the scene, found four people dead inside an apartment.

The suspect, identified as Ryan Willis McFarland, had left the area before officers arrived. After a search, he was located near a pedestrian bridge on the city’s riverside path. According to police, when officers attempted to stop him, the 52-year-old committed suicide.

The investigation continued after that, as authorities suspected that there might be other victims. Later, the bodies of two other men were discovered, one in a nearby apartment and the other in a local business, who were also allegedly killed by McFarland.

Authorities believe that all seven victims were related to the suspected perpetrator. Two children were also among the dead.

The police chief stated that McFarland had a criminal record, but did not provide further details about his past. The investigation to fully clarify the motives and circumstances of the massacre is ongoing.

Muscatine is a city of about 24,000 residents in eastern Iowa, located along the Mississippi River, about 250 kilometers from the state capital, Des Moines.