2 Iowa State students, including suspect’s ex-girlfriend, killed in shooting outside church, sheriff says

The gunman who killed two girls outdoors of an Iowa church Thursday had been in a relationship with one in every of them and focused her, the Story County sheriff mentioned Friday.

Eden Montang, 22, and Vivian Flores, 21, each college students at Iowa State College, have been killed within the taking pictures outdoors Cornerstone Church in Ames, officers mentioned.

The gunman, Johnathan Lee Whitlatch, 33, is believed to have fatally shot himself, Sheriff Paul Fitzgerald mentioned at a information convention Friday.

“Yesterday we skilled a tragic occasion that we truthfully thought we’d by no means see in our county,” Fitzgerald mentioned.

Whitlatch had been in a relationship with Montang however that they had damaged up, the sheriff mentioned.

He had been arrested Tuesday on expenses of harassment and impersonating a public official and was free on bond, Fitzgerald mentioned.

He was accused of repeatedly attempting to contact Montang’s employer on Might 1, at one level claiming to be a police officer, NBC affiliate WHO of Des Moines reported.

On Thursday, Whitlatch approached Montang and Flores as they have been within the church parking zone round 6:51 p.m. and opened hearth with a 9 mm handgun, killing them, Fitzgerald mentioned.

A 3rd girl who was with them was unhurt.

There have been no different accidents. The taking pictures was confined to the parking zone of the church, which on the time was internet hosting an occasion for school and highschool college students, officers mentioned.

Fitzgerald referred to as the killing “a focused act of violence.”

Whitlatch had been arrested on Tuesday on charged of harassment and impersonating a public official associated to Montang and was free on bond, the sheriff mentioned.

Montang was a senior at Iowa State College and Flores was a junior there, the college mentioned.

College President Wendy Wintersteen and different high college officers mentioned in a letter to the college group that they’re heartbroken by their deaths.

“That is an particularly troublesome time as we additionally course of latest taking pictures deaths which have occurred throughout the nation. There isn’t a justification for this mindless gun violence. These horrible tragedies should finish,” they wrote.

The college mentioned it was working to offer assist to college students who want it. Different college students could have been at that occasion, it mentioned, and plenty of members of the college group are church members or attend providers there.

Cornerstone Church mentioned in an announcement, “Our hearts break for all concerned, and we’re praying for everybody affected, particularly the household of the victims.”