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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
World
Matthew Dresch

Face of girl, 6, shot dead alongside her parents in brutal camping attack

This is the first picture of a six-year-old girl who was killed alongside her parents in a 'random' camping attack.

Tyler Schmidt and Sarah Schmidt, both 42, and their daughter Lula, six, were shot dead at Maquoketa Caves State Park, in Iowa, US, on Friday.

The trio were killed in a tent at a camp site.

The Schmidts' nine-year-old son Arlo survived the shooting.

Police could not confirm whether the boy was with his parents and sister when they died.

Officers said suspected gunman Anthony Sherwin, 23, was found dead in the park with a self-inflicted wound.

Sarah's brother Adam Morehouse said he believed the killings were “completely random”.

Suspected shooter Anthony Sherwin, 23, was found dead in the park (via REUTERS)

He said: "Arlo is with family and he is OK, but I have not had any interaction with him.

"As far as I know, he was uninjured physically."

A GoFundMe page has now been set up for Arlo's future education, raising a staggering £142,000 in donation.

Beth Shapiro, who set up the fundraiser, said: "Arlo lost both of his parents, Sarah and Tyler Schmidt, and his 6-year-old sister, Lula, to a senseless act of violence during a family vacation at a state park in Iowa on July 22.

Emergency services rushed to the scene after the shooting (KWQC)

"Arlo is a strong boy, surrounded by family and friends who are supporting him as best we can.

"Some of you have asked how you might help, so we (Sarah and Tyler's siblings and me, Sarah’s cousin) created this fund to allow anyone who would like to help Arlo.

"We will use you generous donations to help Arlo now and to build some savings for his future education.

"As the organiser, I will be receiving the donations on behalf of the family and establishing a trust fund in Arlo’s name."

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The incident is being treated as a triple homicide by Jackson County Sheriff's Office and Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI).

Autopsies for the family will be conducted by The Iowa Office of the State Medical Examiner, as well as that of Sherwin.

A statement from the DCI said: "At about 6:23am on Friday morning, the Jackson County Sheriff's Office and DCI were notified of a triple homicide at the Maquoketa Caves State Park campground.

"Officers located three deceased bodies. Officers later found that a camper was unaccounted for.

"Following a search of the area, officers found the deceased body of Anthony Orlando Sherwin, 23, west of the park. Sherwin appears to have suffered a self-inflicted gunshot wound, and there is no danger to the public.

"At this time, the Maquoketa Caves State Park is an active crime scene and is closed until further notice."

Law enforcement have thanked the public for their assistance with the investigation and their concern for the Schmidt family.

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