Tragedy Strikes Perry High School as Student Opens Fire, Leaving One Dead and Several Injured
PERRY, Iowa — A heartbreaking incident unfolded on the first day back to school after winter break when a 17-year-old student at Perry High School in Iowa carried out a deadly shooting. The assailant, identified as Dylan Butler, fatally shot a sixth-grader and wounded four other students and a school administrator before taking his own life, officials reported.
The incident took place around 7:37 a.m. on Thursday, prompting a swift response from local law enforcement to the active shooter situation. Perry, a city of approximately 7,800 residents situated 30 miles northwest of Des Moines, was shaken by the tragic event.
Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, Butler launched the attack before the school day had officially started. Responding officers discovered victims with gunshot wounds and found the shooter dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to Mitch Mortvedt, the assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
In a news conference, Mortvedt revealed that an “improvised explosive device” was also found on the scene. The state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives safely handled the device. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and investigations are underway. BBC News
1 killed, 5 injured in Iowa school shooting
The tragic incident claimed the life of a yet-to-be-identified sixth-grade student, while the four other wounded students and the school administrator are expected to survive, as confirmed by authorities. Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her condolences, describing the shooting as a “senseless tragedy” that has deeply affected Perry and the entire state.
Dylan Butler, the alleged shooter, acted alone according to evidence gathered by investigators. Mortvedt mentioned that Butler had made several social media posts around the time of the shooting.
The school shooting occurred before regular classes had commenced, but a breakfast program was underway, minimizing the number of students present on campus at the time. As the Perry community grapples with the aftermath of this devastating event, questions surrounding the motive and details of the shooter’s social media activity remain central to the ongoing investigation.
