A sixth grader has been killed and five others injured after a 17-year-old shooter opened fire at a school in Iowa.
In a horrifying tragedy that has sent shockwaves through the Perry community in Iowa, a 17-year-old student at Perry High School opened fire on Thursday morning (January 4), fatally shooting a sixth grader and injuring four other students and a school administrator before taking his own life, officials have confirmed.
Per NBC News, the incident unfolded around 7:37AM when police responded to reports of an active shooter at Perry High School, situated approximately 30 miles northwest of Des Moines.
The teen shooter was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun.
The identity of the student who lost their life has not yet been disclosed.
Mitch Mortvedt - the assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation - revealed that the other injured victims are expected to make a full recovery. They are currently receiving medical treatment at local hospitals. One of the injured victims is in critical condition but is expected to survive.
The shooting occurred prior to the start of the school day, with only a limited number of students present on campus. However, a breakfast program was in progress at the time, believed to be open to students from various grade levels.
It was also the first day students were back in school following the Christmas break.
Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her profound sorrow over the senseless tragedy that has rocked Perry. "This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core," Reynolds said at a news conference. "Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community."
As of this writing, authorities have not disclosed a motive for the shooting, and an extensive investigation is ongoing to unravel the circumstances leading to this devastating event.
During the police response, officers discovered the body of the alleged shooter, who had taken his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound, as reported by Mortvedt during a press conference.
Moreover, law enforcement personnel found an "improvised explosive device" at the scene. The state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives subsequently rendered the device safe.
The shooter has been identified as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, and the evidence suggests that he acted alone. Mortvedt revealed that Butler had made several social media posts in the vicinity of the shooting.
According to EducationWeek.org, this is the first fatal school shooting of 2024. The day prior, an 18-year-old male was shot in the parking lot of Manchester High School in Midlothian, Virginia. A 15-year-old has since been arrested.
Our thoughts are with everybody impacted by this tragedy.
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