Two dad and mom and their 6-year-old daughter had been fatally shot Friday at an Iowa state park, whereas their 9-year-old son survived the assault, officers stated.

The suspected gunman was additionally discovered within the park lifeless from an obvious self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities stated.

Investigators are nonetheless working to find out the connection between the victims and suspect within the triple murder, which occurred Friday shortly earlier than 6:30 a.m. at Maquoketa Caves State Park in Jackson County.

Responding officers discovered the our bodies of the three victims at their campsite. As they canvassed and evacuated the world, officers discovered there was a camper registered on the park who was unaccounted for, authorities stated.

“They famous that there was one camper unaccounted for that they believed may have probably been armed,” Iowa Division of Legal Investigation Particular Agent Mike Krapfl instructed ABC affiliate WQAD in Moline, Illinois. “They searched the world for that particular person after which afterward, about 11 a.m., we discovered a deceased particular person contained in the park.”

DCI recognized the suspect as Anthony Orlando Sherwin, 23. The company doesn’t have any data on a motive, Mitch Mortvedt, DCI assistant director, instructed ABC Information Saturday.

There’s believed to be no ongoing danger to the general public and the Maquoketa Caves State Park is closed till additional discover, authorities stated.

DCI recognized the victims Friday night time as Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt, each 42, and Lula Schmidt, 6. The household was from Cedar Falls.

Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Inexperienced stated he was “devastated” after listening to the information.

“I knew Sarah nicely, and he or she & her household had been common walkers right here within the Sartori Park neighborhood,” he stated in a assertion on Fb.

Inexperienced stated the household’s 9-year-old son, Arlo, survived the assault “and is secure.” No additional particulars had been offered.

When requested in regards to the boy, Mortvedt stated DCI just isn’t releasing any additional data presently on the case.

“The mayor didn’t obtain any data from legislation enforcement neither is he privileged to it,” Mortvedt stated.

Sarah Schmidt was an worker on the Cedar Falls Public Library, Inexperienced stated. The library closed Saturday following the tragedy to permit her colleagues to grieve, he stated.

Inexperienced stated extra particulars shall be forthcoming on providers and different memorials deliberate for the household.

“Please provide some additional grace to the Schmidts’ many buddies, neighbors, and coworkers as we attempt to course of this horrible tragedy,” he stated.

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds stated on Twitter that she was “horrified” by the capturing and “devastated by the lack of three harmless lives.”

The Iowa Division of Pure Assets, which maintains the state parks, stated its employees is working with legislation enforcement on the investigation.

“Our lengthy standing custom of having fun with Iowa’s pure wonders was shaken right now, however the legacy for the thousands and thousands of households that recreate at Iowa State Parks will proceed,” Iowa Division of Pure Assets Director Kayla Lyon stated in an announcement Friday. “This heartbreaking incident hits house for the DNR household; not solely as people who find themselves enthusiastic about getting of us outdoors, however as individuals who recurrently camp with our households at these identical parks.”

The Iowa Workplace of the State Medical Examiner will conduct autopsies of the three victims and the findings shall be launched, DCI stated. The state health worker will carry out an post-mortem on the suspect.