By Molly Montag, Mason City Globe Gazette

MASON CITY — A man accused of killing two people in Mason City’s Highlands neighborhood last week has also been charged with attempted murder.

A single count of attempted murder was filed Wednesday morning against Peter Veal, 30, of Lake Mills.

Veal already faced two counts of first-degree murder for the deaths of Caleb Christensen, 37, of Mason City and Melinda Kavars, 53, also of Mason City.

Christensen and Kavars were found dead in Christensen’s home, 1620 N. Hampshire Ave., about 2:30 a.m. Nov. 17.

Police said Christensen died of multiple sharp-force injuries, and that an autopsy showed Kavars died of a single gunshot to the chest and neck.

Court documents that listed the attempted murder charge did not identify the victim, include information on what Veal allegedly did to the victim or offer any other details.

The document states that Veal on Nov. 17 “did an act by which he expected to set in motion a force of chain of events which would cause or result in the death of another person.”

It does not say where this allegedly occurred.

Police Chief Jeff Brinkley and Cerro Gordo County Attorney Carlyle Dalen could not immediately be reached to comment on the case.