On the evening of October 29, 2023, 72-year-old Todd Sulsberger was fatally shot at the family farm in Hornick, Iowa. Todd placed a 911 call around 7:30 p.m., reporting that his son, 44-year-old Walter Sulsberger, was shooting at him; a gunshot was heard on the line about 90 seconds into that call and the line then went silent. Deputies arriving at the scene found livestock loose and large hay bales burning.

Walter Sulsberger was later located sitting in his pickup. A lengthy, armed standoff followed into the early hours of October 30, with negotiators in contact and tactical teams deployed. Walter admitted to killing his father, was heavily armed, and opened fire on officers as they moved in; he was struck and died at the scene. An autopsy confirmed Todd died of a single gunshot wound to the head. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation determined law enforcement’s actions were justified and no other suspects were identified.

If anyone has information about what led to the violence at the family farm, please share what is known.