Tyler Schmidt, 42, Sarah Schmidt, 42, and 6-year-old Lulu Schmidt died Friday while camping at an east Iowa state park.
According to a Facebook post by the Cedar Falls mayor, a 9-year-old child reportedly survived Friday morning’s shooting that killed his parents and sister while they were camping in Maquoketa Caves State Park.
Who are the sufferers? What have you done? If you have any questions about this, you’ve come to the right place.
Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt: Who are they?
Cedar Falls residents Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt died in their tent at the Maquoketa Caves on Friday morning.
According to Mayor Rob Green, Sarah Schmidt worked at the Cedar Falls Public Library. He claimed to be a frequent walker in the Sartori Park neighborhood and to know her and her family well. He collaborated with her on a technical presentation for a public library this week.
Officials responded to reports of a shooting at the Maquoketa Caves State Park campground before 6:30 a.m. Friday, according to a statement from the Iowa Criminal Investigation Department. According to Mitch Mortvedt, DCI’s deputy director, police found three people shot dead in a tent at the campground.
The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner will conduct the autopsies on each of the three victims. Upon completion, the results will be made available to the public. The state coroner will also perform an autopsy on the suspect, 23-year-old Anthony Orlando Sherwin.
Murder-Suicide Written by Anthony Orlando Sherwin
23-year-old Anthony Orlando Sherwin, who has just been recognized by authorities, committed the murder at Maquoketa Caves State Park. He murdered a family of three before committing suicide.
According to authorities, a triple homicide at the Maquoketa Caves State Park campground was reported to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Office and the Iowa Criminal Investigation Department at 6:23 a.m. Friday.
Police found three bodies. A camper van was later found missing by police.
Sherwin was found dead west of the park, according to officials. Apparently he shot himself, it said. This place has a lot of trees, said DCI Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt Law & Crime over the phone.
Sherwin, a Nebraska native, is not believed by investigators to have any prior connections to the victims.
The police assume that there is no danger to the population. After the first three victims were found, Mortvedt claims that the initial focus of the investigation was on finding the perpetrators. At first it was not clear whether the missing Sherwin was a suspect.
After Sherwin is found dead and named as a suspect, authorities work to identify the victims and determine the cause of the incident.
Mortvedt gave no reason. According to him, the three victims belonged to a campsite other than Sherwin’s. According to Mortvedt, it was not clear if these killings were premeditated or if Sherwin knew the victims.
Lulu Schmidt, the child of Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt
Lulu Schmidt is one of the family members who died instantly while camping in Maquoketa Caves State Park. She was the daughter of Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt, the other two were shot.
Lulu died when she was only six years old. Arlo, her older brother, is just nine years old and survived the shooting.