In a devastating incident that unfolded at Perry Middle and High School in Perry, Iowa, a 17-year-old student, identified as Dylan Butler, opened fire on the first day of classes. Armed with a shotgun and a handgun, Butler’s attack resulted in the death of a sixth-grader and left five others wounded, according to authorities.
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The shooting occurred shortly after 7:30 am (13:30 GMT) on Thursday, sending shockwaves through the school community. Investigating the incident, officials from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation revealed that Butler died from what appears to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Mitch Mortvedt, the assistant director of the state investigation division, shared during a news conference that Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Additionally, authorities discovered a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device, which they successfully rendered safe.
The motive behind Butler’s actions is under investigation, with authorities scrutinizing several social media posts made around the time of the shooting. While one person remains in critical condition, their injuries are deemed non-life-threatening, and the condition of the others is reported as stable.
Among the injured is the school’s principal, Dan Marburger, who was identified as an administrator by his alma mater. The incident unfolded when students returned from winter break, and fortunately, there were only a few students and faculty present in the building at the time, as mentioned by Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante.Eyewitness Rachael Kares, 18, described the terrifying moment during jazz band practice when she and her bandmates heard what she characterized as four spaced-apart gunshots. “We all just jumped,” Kares recalled, capturing the tense atmosphere during the tragic event.
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