Three people were killed in a shooting at a state park in eastern Iowa Friday morning and the suspected gunman is also dead, police said.
Police responded to reports of the shooting at the Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground before 6:30 a.m., Mike Krapfl, special agent in charge of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said in a statement.
Krapfl said officers responding to reports of shooting found three people dead at the scene, but he did not specify how they died and has not released their identities.
He said officers searching the campground later found the body of a Nebraska man who had died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Authorities identified him as 23-year-old Anthony Orlando Sherwin.
1:10 p.m.: U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley tweets: ‘Killing innocent ppl is sickening’
U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley tweeted the following statement today in response to the shootings:
“I’m closely monitoring situation in Maquoketa Caves State Park. Praying for the lives lost & their loved ones Im grateful for Iowa law enforcement who responded +camp staff for ensuring safety of other campers Violence can’t be tolerated Killing innocent ppl is sickening”
12:45 p.m.: Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds releases statement
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement today in response to the shootings:
“I’m horrified by the shooting this morning at Maquoketa Caves State Park and devastated by the loss of three innocent lives. As we grieve this unimaginable tragedy, Kevin and I pray for the victims’ family members and the law enforcement officers who responded to the scene. We ask Iowans to do the same.”
12:40 p.m.: Campground, Camp Shalom evacuated
The campground was evacuated in the wake of the shooting. A children’s summer camp on site called Camp Shalom said in a Facebook post that parents had been notified and that it had established a pick-up site for campers.
Camp Shalom officials said they have accounted for all campers.
Krapfl said the park remains closed but that there is no longer a threat to the public.
More about Maquoketa Caves State Park
Long one of Iowa’s gems for its accessibility and 13 caves that are of four types — solutional, mechanical, talus and rock shelters.
The caves in the park were used by Native Americans and became a popular picnicking spot for settlers and souvenir hunters; they stole the white stalactites.
The large, 1,100-foot Dancehall Cave is the longest wild cave open to the public in Iowa and easy to walk. The main passage has a lighting system but bring your own lights.
You can see the 50-foot arching Natural Bridge over the creek, or enter smaller rock tubes like Bat Passage, where your feet are sure to get wet in the cold water.
Enter Steel Gate Passage for a more intense caving experience, or witness the wonder of the 17-ton Balanced Rock that rests on a base a foot in diameter.
Where is Maquoketa Caves State Park located?
Maquoketa Caves State Park is located at 9688 Caves Road, about 10 miles northwest of Maquoketa in Jackson County.
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Three people were killed in a shooting at a state park in eastern Iowa Friday morning and the “suspected” gunman is also dead, police said. Seems anymore it’s never perpetrator! More FBI GUN CONTROL FALSE-FLAG! There will be many more – guaranteed!