A farmer and three farmhands were discovered shot to death Monday in a North Dakota wheat field, and police say the incident may have been a murder-suicide.
Towner County Sheriff Andrew Hillier identified the victims as 56-year-old Douglas Dulmage, 34-year-old Justin Bracken, 64-year-old Richard Bracken, and 59-year-old Robert Bracken. Police found a .375 revolver at the scene, according to NBC News.
Authorities in North Dakota have identified four people who were found shot to death in a wheat field earlier this week. https://t.co/lbJgmPivxs
— NBC News (@NBCNews) September 1, 2022
Family members and others believe there was a dispute which led to one of the men allegedly killing his brother, son, and Dulmage and then killing himself, Valley News Live reported. (RELATED: Mob Of Bald Eagles Kill 54 of Idaho Farmer’s Lambs)
“It is hard to understand why something like this would happen in a rural farming community,” North Dakota Farm Bureau President Daryl Lies said, according to ABC News. “When evil presents itself, it can be devastating but we must remember there is more good than evil in our world. Doug’s dedication to agriculture and love for his family will forever be remembered.”
Pat Traynor, a longtime friend of Dulmage, described his presence in the rural community.
“He was a pillar of the community. It’s a total devastating loss,” Traynor told Valley News Live. “Everybody loved Doug Dulmage.”
“If we could all be a bit more like Doug, the world would be a much better place,” Traynor added.
Dulmage grew wheat, corn and soybeans with his 95-year-old father at the property where he was allegedly killed, Valley News Live noted.
The Towner County Sheriff’s Department did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller for comment.