Robert Bracken, 59, is believed to have murdered his brother, son, and a third man on August 29 before turning a gun on himself, according to autopsy results and evidence found at the scene, according to Towner County Sheriff Andrew Hillier.
Justin Bracken, 34, Douglas Dulmage, 56, and Richard Bracken, 64, were among those killed. The Brackens had been harvesting crops in Dulmage's field south of Cando for him.
Robert and Richard Bracken had been engaged in a quarrel that had "been escalating for a week or more," according to Hillier, who said an inquiry had revealed this.
Robert Bracken was carrying the gun that was discovered at the site, according to Hillier, and an autopsy revealed that he had only suffered one self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help" to the Crisis Text Line at (741) 741-741, or visit suicidepreventionlifeline.org if you or someone you know is thinking about taking their own life.