MAQUOKETA, Iowa — Three members of a Cedar Rapids family were shot to death in their tent at Maquoketa Caves State Park campground. The body of the shooter, who apparently had some connection to the family, was found nearby later – the victim of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shootings was about 6:30 a.m. Investigators were uncertain why Anthony Orlando Sherwin, 23 reportedly from Nebraska, slayed the family. Those victims:
> Tyler Schmidt, 42, a computer programmer who was a well-known iogger in the Sartori Park neighborhood of Cedar Rapids.
> Sarah Schmidt, 42, a library employee at Cedar Rapids.
> Lulu Schmidt, 6, their daughter.
A 9-year-old son, Arlo, survived.
Maquoketa Caves Park. Closed through Thursday. Camping reservations being refunded. The campground midway Dubuque and Davenport and 50 miles from Cedar Rapids.
Park profile
Maquoketa Caves Park, part of the Iowa state parks system, has 30 campsites nestled among 111 acres of mature pines. Hiking trails connect 30 Driftless Area caves. Some caves are accessible to amateur spelunkers. The park is listed as a historic district on the National Register of Historic Places. The park derives its name from the native people’s Alginquin language and means Bear River.