Boy, 9, survives shooting that killed rest of family at Iowa campground, mayor says

MAQUOKETA, Iowa — A 9-year-old boy survived an attack that killed three of his family members at Maquoketa Caves State Park Campground on Friday, according to the mayor of Cedar Falls, Iowa.

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“This morning, while camping at Maquoketa Caves State Park, our neighbor and Cedar Falls Public Library employee Sarah Schmidt, along with her husband Tyler, and daughter Lula (age 6) lost their lives to a 23-year old gunman who then took his own life. Like many of you just hearing the news, I’m devastated,” Cedar Falls Mayor Rob Green wrote on Facebook on Friday morning, identifying the survivor of the attack as 9-year-old Arlo Schmidt.

The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation confirmed the victims’ identities, noting that both Sarah and Tyler Schmidt were 42, and that all three were found dead inside their tent, KCCI reported.

Investigators also named 23-year-old Anthony Sherwin, of La Vista, Nebraska, whom they found dead of an apparent gunshot wound just west of the park, as the suspect, the TV station reported.

According to WQAD-TV, Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds responded to the shooting Friday afternoon with the following prepared statement:

“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.”

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