The Muscatine community has established funds to support the families of the victims of a series of shootings in Muscatine that left seven dead, including the gunman.
The series of shootings rocked Muscatine on Monday, June 1, when six family members were killed by gunman Ryan McFarland, 52. Those killed by McFarland included Lesa McFarland, 51; Dakota Whitlow, 32; Austin Harris, 29; Ryle McFarland, 20; Mark McFarland, 16; and Ryan McFarland Jr., 13.
All were family members of Ryan McFarland, who killed himself in front of police after the series of shootings. Ryan and Lesa were divorced in 2023, court filings show.
Johnathan McFarland, 22, Ryan and Lesa’s son, is the only member of the immediate family who was not killed in the incidents. Whitlow is survived by his fiancée, Audrey Perdue, as well as two other siblings unrelated to McFarland.
“It’s hard to think this is even real,” Johnathan read at a vigil Wednesday night. “I just want to say that I will forever love and miss my mom, Lesa, my sister Ryle, and my four brothers, Dakota, Austin, Mark and Ryan.”
“I come to the community in hopes that we can rally ourselves together in memory of Ryan Jr., Mark, Ryle, Austin, Dakota and Lesa,” Perdue said at the vigil. “Every year, countless lives are lost to senseless acts of domestic violence, and, unfortunately, this time, it is near and dear to our hearts and community.”
How to support McFarland, Whitlow and Harris families
A close friend of Johnathan created a GoFundMe fundraiser to raise funds to support Jonathan. As of Friday afternoon, nearly $60,000 had been raised of the fundraiser’s goal of $100,000.
“Johnathan suffered and is still suffering a heartbreaking tragedy. Johnathan was very close with his family and loved all of them so dearly,” the fundraiser’s description reads. “Anything helps and Johnathan appreciates all of the love and support from the community.”
The Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine also created a fund to support the McFarland, Whitlow and Harris families through the coordination of Saints Mary and Mathias Church, a Catholic congregation in Muscatine.
“Charitable donations to the McFarland, Whitlow, and Harris Family Support Fund will help address immediate and ongoing family needs, including memorial-related expenses,” a news release from the foundation.
Donations can be made online at givinggreater.org/supportfund.
Kyle Werner is the breaking news and public safety reporter for the Register. Reach him at kwerner@registermedia.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Muscatine raising money to support families impacted by shootings
Reporting by Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register / Detroit Free Press
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Kyle Werner, Des Moines Register | USA TODAY Network
