PERRY, Iowa – On Thursday morning at 7:37 am, a shooter opened fire at Perry High School located in Perry, approximately 40 miles northwest of Des Moines.
The shooting took place before school started for the day, but during a breakfast program where students of multiple grades attended.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) announced Thursday afternoon that the identified shooter, 17-year-old Dylan Butler, a student a Perry High School, was found dead from an apparent self-inflected gunshot wound as law enforcement entered the school.
DCI announced that six people were shot. One sixth-grade student died, and five others, a school adminstrator, (believed to be Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, but DCI would not confirm) and four students, are being treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines.
According to DCI, the shooter was armed with a pump-action shotgun and small caliber handgun. Perry Police also found a “rudimentary” improvised explosive device upon entering the building that was rendered safe by the State Fire Marshal and ATF. Butler also made several social media posts before the shooting and law enforcement are obtaining those as evidence as they conduct a background investigation. DCI was unwilling to comment on possible motive at this time.
“Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the community. This strikes at the heart of everything that we hold dear,” Gov. Kim Reynolds said during the press briefing on Thursday afternoon.
“This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core. I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you. It is impossible to understand why anything like this happens. Yet, I will let you know that we will work tirelessly to get the answers so that we can prevent it from happening again,” she added.
Reynolds recognized the immediate response by law enforcement entering the school.
“As we all know, in situations like these, every minute counts, and their heroic actions today we can say saved lives,” she stated.
Reynolds promised the full resources of the state government to assist in the response to the shooting and community’s recovery. She stated that social workers from the mental health region embedded in the school district would provide counseling services for the students, teachers, and staff.
