Gunman Murders 2 Women And Then Kills Himself

by

Iowa gunman kills ex-girlfriend, another woman, then himself in church parking lot, sheriff says – CNN

Johnathan Lee Whitlatch, 33, shot and killed two women outside Cornerstone Church on the outskirts of Ames, Iowa, before shooting himself. The women were friends and students at Iowa State University, as well as members of the church’s community.

The shooter turned the gun on himself after shooting two women.

The shooting happened during the first summer night of a college ministry program. The shooter made no apparent effort to go into the church, Fitzgerald said.

The shooting at a church in Iowa was the result of a “domestic situation” between the Whitlach and one of the women, said the sheriff. The shooter used a 9mm handgun.

The investigation continues as police take Whitlatch’s pickup, ammunition and a receipt from a business in West Des Moines into evidence.

Whitlatch was accused of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse and was set to go to trial next month. He has a previous child custody dispute with a different woman and got divorced from yet another woman.

Cornerstone Pastor Mark Vance released the following statement: “Tonight, a tragic shooting occurred involving two young members of our Cornerstone Church community. We are praying for everyone affected and we appreciate the responsiveness of law enforcement.”

Gov. Kim Reynolds released the following statement on Facebook, asking for prayers for the victims and their families.

The shooting follows several other mass shootings in the U.S. in recent weeks. One of those attacks killed 19 people at an elementary school, and another killed three people at a medical office.

Consider the following news outlets for more details about this story.

  1. Iowa gunman kills ex-girlfriend, another woman, then himself in church parking lot, sheriff says  CNN
  2. WATCH LIVE: Iowa church shooting update  KARE 11
  3. Iowa shooting outside church leaves 2 victims, suspected gunman dead, sheriff’s department says  Fox News
  4. 3 dead in shooting outside of church in Ames  KCCI Des Moines
  5. Man who killed 2 outside Iowa church faced harassment case  WeAreGreenBay.com