A 71-year-old man who fatally shot two of his neighbors before setting his house on fire in the small city of Glenwood, Iowa, has died from his injuries, authorities confirmed.
Dennis Burnell was found with severe burns after emerging from his burning home on Wednesday evening.
He was taken to the Kansas University Medical Center Burn Unit, where he died on Friday, according to the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
Investigators said the incident began after a dispute between Burnell and his neighbors, 38-year-old Brandon Oman and his wife, 35-year-old Stevie Oman. Both victims were shot outside Burnell’s home and died at the scene.
Property records show the Omans lived directly across the street from Burnell. Their obituaries state the couple had a daughter.
Witnesses reported hearing an explosion at Burnell’s residence shortly before flames engulfed the property. Officers responding to calls of gunfire found the house fully ablaze.
Glenwood Police Chief Eric Johansen said Burnell had been the subject of previous calls to law enforcement for neighborhood disputes.
Court records show he was convicted in August last year of third-degree harassment involving another neighbor, resulting in a fine of just over $100.
