Iowa home shooting: Who is the McFarland family killed by Ryan McFarland in Muscatine

Authorities identified two of the victims as close associates and members of the same extended family where the shootings occurred. People in the community describe them as hard-working, family-oriented people.

Two of the six victims of the fatal shooting were students in a nearby school district, according to the chief. Authorities said the suspect’s father Ryan Willis MacFarlaneThe 52-year-old Muscatine man committed suicide later that day after a confrontation with police.

Read more: A series of shootings in Muscatine, Iowa, leaves seven people dead, including a suspect

Lyle MacFarlane, 20Jonathan’s sister, a recent graduate of the University of Northern Iowa, is preparing to begin her teaching career. She is a dean’s list student who will graduate in May 2026 with a major in elementary education and a minor in social-emotional learning, according to the university. She has completed student teaching in the Muscatine School District and plans to begin teaching at McKinley Elementary School in the fall. Faculty and staff describe her as smart, compassionate and destined for a bright future in education.

Mark MacFarlane, 16, Just finished my junior year at Muscatine High School. Outside of the classroom, he worked at the FunZone Arcade in Pizza Ranch where his co-workers remembered him as a valuable employee. Authorities noted that Mark received the Pizza Ranch Hospitality Award in March for outstanding customer service and positive interactions with guests.

Ryan McFarland Jr., 13the youngest of the McFarlane family. He recently completed seventh grade at Susan Clark Junior High School. School officials join the community in mourning his death and extend condolences to classmates, teachers and family members affected by the tragedy.

Police found Jonathan’s family of four at their home in Muscatine, about 50 miles southeast of Cedar Rapids.

The shooter, Ryan Willis, later committed suicide on a trail where he was found by police.

Read more: Ryan Willis McFarland: Muscatine shooting kills 7, including gunman

She also paid tribute to the other victims and her extended family, saying: “I come to the community today in the hope that we can come together to remember little Ryan, Mark, Ryall, Austin, Dakota and Lysa,” local media reported.

Austin Harris, 29, Remembered by his loved ones as a kind and caring person. He is survived by his parents, Dion Harris, and sisters, Jozlyn, Heather and Kayla. Harris has worked at Musco Lighting for seven years and is described by colleagues as a hard-working and dedicated employee. “He was a kind, loving man,” the family said.

Both Whitlow and Harris were found shot to death elsewhere in the city. When police began investigating, one of the victims was found inside a home and another victim was found dead inside a business.

The shooter’s surviving son, Jonathan McFarland, delivered a heartfelt speech in which he remembered his father and family. “It’s just, it’s hard to imagine that this is true,” he said.

He further said, “I just want to say that I will always love and miss my mom Lysa, my sister Lyle, and my four brothers Dakota, Austin, Mark, and Ryan.”