5-1-2024 (PERRY) Tragedy struck Perry, Iowa, on Thursday morning (Jan 4) as a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School, resulting in the death of a sixth-grade student and injuries to five others. The incident occurred on the first day of classes following the winter break, shocking the community and law enforcement officials.
Authorities identified the suspect as Dylan Butler, a student at Perry High School, during a news briefing. Responding officers discovered Butler dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.
In the course of searching the high school, law enforcement officials uncovered an improvised explosive device, according to Mitch Mortvedt, an assistant director with the state Department of Criminal Investigation. The device was safely rendered inert by members of the state fire marshal’s office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives. The presence of the explosive device added an additional layer of danger and complexity to the already tragic event.
The shooting in Iowa highlights the ongoing national epidemic of gun violence in American schools, which has worsened in recent years. The K-12 School Shooting Database reported 346 incidents in 2023 involving guns being brandished or fired at schools or bullets hitting school property, marking the highest number in the database’s records dating back to 1966. Unfortunately, 2024 has already witnessed four such incidents within the first four days of the year.
Perry, a small town with a population of approximately 7,900, is located about 64 km northwest of Des Moines, the capital city of Iowa. Perry High School and Perry Middle School share a single campus.
The attack occurred just after 7:30 am (1330 GMT), before most students and faculty had entered the building. Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun, Dylan Butler initiated the assault. Mitch Mortvedt revealed that Butler had made several social media posts around the time of the shooting, though specific details were not provided. The motive behind the shooting is currently under investigation.
Of the five individuals injured, four are students, and the fifth is a school administrator. Mitch Mortvedt declined to release any names. Easton Valley, another school district, issued a statement confirming that Dan Marburger, the high school principal, was the administrator shot in the attack.
Although one victim is in critical condition, their injuries are not believed to be life-threatening. The four other victims are in stable condition, according to Mortvedt.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her condolences during the news briefing, stating, “This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core, and I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.”
The investigation into the incident is being aided by FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office, and US Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the shooting, according to a spokesperson from the Justice Department.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the need to address these recurrent tragedies, stating, “We cannot allow these tragedies to continue. We have to do something.”
Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy had planned a rally in Perry but instead converted it into an in-person prayer meeting upon learning of the shooting, as confirmed by a campaign spokesperson.
With Iowa hosting the first statewide contest for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in eleven days, the community mourns the loss of life and prays for healing. Vivek Ramaswamy expressed his condolences and called for prayers on the X social media platform, urging support for the community of Perry, Iowa.
