By Andi Anderson
A somber and tragic incident occurred on a rural farm near Hornick, Iowa, as authorities reported the unfortunate loss of a father and son. Woodbury County Sheriff Chad Sheehan provided details of the series of events that unfolded at the farm.
The incident began when a man, later identified as 72-year-old Todd Sulsberger, placed a call for help at approximately 7:30 on a Sunday night. The call to the Woodbury County Communications Center was a distressing report, as the male victim informed authorities that his son was shooting at him, as stated by the sheriff.
Deputies promptly responded to the farm, where they discovered the suspect, identified as 44-year-old Walter Sulsberger, situated in a pickup truck on his father's property. Sheriff Sheehan explained that the situation escalated when he personally made contact with the suspect via phone at 9:10 p.m. Walter Sulsberger conveyed to the sheriff that there would be no peaceful resolution and even made threats towards law enforcement officers.
The severity of the situation prompted a significant law enforcement response. Three armored vehicles were dispatched to the scene, and the Iowa State Patrol provided aerial surveillance. A crisis negotiator engaged in hours of communication with Walter Sulsberger in an attempt to secure a peaceful surrender.
However, the tragic climax occurred at approximately 2:45 a.m., when the homicide suspect fired multiple shots at tactical teams who were trying to move in and take him into custody. In response to the gunfire and fearing for their lives with no other recourse, law enforcement personnel returned fire, ultimately striking the suspect.
Walter Sulsberger lost his life at the scene, and a subsequent search on the property led to the discovery of his father, Todd Sulsberger, who was also deceased. The sheriff's office confirmed that before Todd Sulsberger's call to 911, dispatchers had received reports of livestock running loose on the property and a fire at the scene.
Sheriff Sheehan described the chaos on the farm, indicating that cattle were out, although the circumstances leading to their release remain unknown. Fires were also set, with hay bales being a notable target. However, there were no reports of structures being set on fire.
While two of the armored vehicles at the scene sustained damage from gunfire, there were no injuries to law enforcement officers or first responders. State agents with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation have been called in to conduct a thorough investigation into the tragic events that unfolded on the rural farm.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-ridvan-celik
Categories: Iowa, General