Accident – Death – Obituary News :

A Tragic Incident: Teen Opens Fire at Iowa High School, Leaving One Dead and Several Injured

In a devastating turn of events, a 17-year-old student unleashed gunfire at a small-town Iowa high school on the first day back from winter break. The incident resulted in the tragic death of a Grade 6 student and left five others wounded. As chaos ensued, students sought safety by barricading themselves in offices and fleeing in panic.

During a press conference held on Thursday afternoon, Mitch Mortvedt, an assistant director with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, provided details on the incident. The authorities received reports of an active shooter at 7:37 a.m., prompting officers to quickly respond to the scene. Upon arrival, they discovered students and faculty either sheltering in place or attempting to escape the school.

Officers bravely entered the school and were confronted with multiple individuals suffering from gunshot wounds. They swiftly located the suspected shooter, who had taken his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The alleged perpetrator has been identified as Dylan Butler, a student at the school.

Mortvedt revealed that Butler had been armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Additionally, an officer discovered an improvised explosive device during a search of the school. Thankfully, the device was rendered safe by the state’s fire marshal and members of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.

Authorities confirmed that four of the wounded were students, while one was a school administrator. Three gunshot victims were transported by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, according to a spokesperson for the health system. Additional patients were transferred to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, the second hospital involved in treating the injured.

The tragic incident unfolded in Perry, a town with approximately 8,000 residents located about 64 kilometers northwest of the state capital, Des Moines. Perry High School, situated on the east edge of town, is connected to the middle school.

Accounts from Students

Students who were preparing for their first classes after the winter break found themselves in a terrifying situation. They were forced to take cover in classrooms, barricade doors, or make a desperate dash for the nearest exit. The ordeal finally came to an end when the suspected shooter was found dead.

Ava Augustus, a senior at Perry High School, was waiting in a counsellor’s office when she heard three gunshots. In a state of panic, she and others quickly barricaded the door, ready to defend themselves if necessary. With a window too small for an escape, they anxiously awaited help. “And then we hear ‘He’s down. You can go out,'” Augustus tearfully recalled.

She made a run for it and was met with a scene of shattered glass and blood on the floor. As she reached her car, she witnessed a girl being carried out of the auditorium with a gunshot wound to her leg.

Zander Shelley, a 15-year-old student, was in a hallway when he heard the sound of gunshots. Reacting swiftly, he sought refuge in a nearby classroom. Zander was grazed twice by bullets and concealed himself in the classroom, managing to send a text message to his father at 7:36 a.m. Kevin Shelley, Zander’s father, who works as a garbage truck driver, immediately informed his boss that he needed to leave. “It was the most scared I’ve been in my entire life,” he admitted.

Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior, was concluding a jazz band practice when she and her bandmates suddenly heard four spaced-out gunshots. “We all just jumped,” Kares shared. Sensing the urgency, their band teacher shouted, “Run!” They sprinted out of the school, past the football field, and heard people yelling, “Get out! Get out!”

As Kares made her escape, she heard additional shots but couldn’t ascertain the total number. Her primary concern was reaching home to be with her three-year-old son. “At that moment, I didn’t care about anything except getting out because I had to get home with my son,” she expressed.

Vigils have been planned for Thursday evening at a local park and a nearby church. Perry High School announced its closure for Friday, with counseling services scheduled at the public library on both Friday and Saturday.

U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the incident in Washington. The FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office are collaborating with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, leading the ongoing investigation.

Tragically, mass shootings like this have often sparked calls for stricter gun laws from advocates of gun safety. However, such proposals have faced significant opposition from many Republicans, particularly in rural, GOP-leaning states such as Iowa.

As of July 2021, Iowa does not mandate a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public. Still, a background check is required for individuals purchasing handguns without a permit.

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