Perry, Iowa – In a devastating start to the new year, Perry High School became the scene of a horrific shooting incident early Thursday morning. As students returned from winter break, 17-year-old Dylan Butler unleashed violence upon the school, equipped with firearms and a homemade bomb. The assailant’s attack tragically resulted in the death of a young sixth-grade student and left five others, including a school administrator, injured.
State police, citing Butler’s alarming pre-attack message on TikTok, confirmed the shooter’s ominous online presence. Butler, in a chilling prelude, broadcasted a short video with the foreboding caption, “now we wait”, right before the attack. The incident commenced around 7:47 a.m., plunging the school into chaos.
Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior, recounted the terrifying moments when gunshots interrupted her jazz band practice. “We all jumped,” Kares described, “and upon our teacher’s command, we fled.”
Authorities have withheld the identities of the victims but confirmed that one of the wounded was Principal Dan Marburger, as per local reports. Mitch Mortvedt, Assistant Director of the Iowa Department of Public Safety, reported that while one victim remains in critical condition, others are stable.
Butler was found deceased at the scene, having taken his own life after the attack. He was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun. Additionally, a quickly neutralized improvised explosive device was found, testifying to the prompt and extensive response from law enforcement, which included over 150 officers from various agencies.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante, speaking at a press conference, highlighted the fortunate timing of the incident, noting that the early hour meant fewer students and staff were present, thereby potentially reducing the number of victims.
The attack left the community in shock, with many students and parents struggling to process the events. Parent Kevin Shelley recounted his son Zander’s narrow escape after being grazed by a bullet. Similarly, senior Ava Augustus described the harrowing moments of barricading and preparing to confront the shooter in her counselor’s office.
Following the incident, the school district canceled classes for the immediate future to allow the community time to grieve and process. In the aftermath, the FBI joined local authorities in investigating the tragedy.
This shooting incident, occurring just days before the Iowa caucuses, has drawn national attention, with the White House monitoring the situation. The local community and authorities have extended their deepest condolences to the victims and their families, urging the public to offer support and respect their need for privacy during this difficult time.