First School Shooting of 2024: Perry High School in Shock After Tragic Incident

Accident – Death – Obituary News : PERRY, Iowa — On a cold winter morning in Perry, Iowa, the students of Perry High School returned to class after their winter break. Excitement filled the air as they reunited with friends after spending the holidays apart. However, little did they know that one of their classmates had posted a TikTok video earlier that morning, featuring a blue duffel bag with the ominous caption, “Now we wait.”

At 7:35 a.m., gunshots shattered the tranquility of the morning, and chaos ensued. Students and teachers alike started running for their lives. Cameron Ketelson, a brave 15-year-old sophomore, immediately grabbed his younger stepsister, Chloe, and guided her towards their parents’ body shop across the street. They knew it would provide a safe haven.

As they huddled together, they witnessed the scene unfolding outside. Police cars with their lights flashing closed off the surrounding streets, while a sheriff’s SUV and an ambulance rushed past. The atmosphere was filled with panic and confusion. Chloe described it as pure chaos.

The fact that the shooter was someone they knew made it even more difficult to comprehend. His name was Dylan Butler, and fellow students identified him as the person behind the disturbing TikTok post. Prior to the shooting, police had already been to Butler’s rural home, and it was later revealed that he had brought two weapons and an improvised explosive device into the school.

In the aftermath of the shooting, students began texting each other, desperately seeking reassurance. They had undergone active shooter drills and had been aware of school shootings for as long as they could remember, but nothing could prepare them for the reality of it. The emotions that surfaced were a mixture of blankness and numbness, as if the events unfolding around them were surreal.

Jill Ketelson, Chloe’s mother, held her close, trying to provide comfort in the midst of the turmoil. They were waiting in the safety of the body shop, anxiously waiting for other family members to join them. Their first instinct was to come together, to find solace in each other’s presence.

Jill’s sister-in-law, a school employee, had been inside the building when the shooting occurred. She had been in the main office when the vice principal rushed in, urging her to hide in a safe room. After they emerged from their hiding place, she confided in Jill, describing the blood on the counselor’s office door and the shells scattered on the ground. The reality of the situation was heartbreaking, sickening, and terrifying.

Meanwhile, neighbors who lived next to Perry High School gathered in their driveways, exchanging worried glances and discussing the events that had unfolded. Jason Spence, a 46-year-old Marine veteran, had heard the gunshots while walking his service dog, Hershey. His wife worked at the nearby elementary school and had called him in a panic. As they reunited at home, a friend called, asking if their children could seek refuge with them. Jason immediately opened his door, remembering the trauma he had experienced during his time in Iraq. He knew those children would need support and counseling to cope with what they had witnessed.

The impact of the shooting was felt by everyone in the community. A brother and sister who had fled the violence stood below their basketball hoop, exchanging text messages with their friends. Adrenaline coursed through their veins, leaving them restless and unsure of what to do next. Attending a candlelight vigil later that evening seemed like the only thing they could do to show their support.

Joseph, a 13-year-old eighth-grader, had just finished his early morning basketball practice when he heard the screams. A lunch lady spotted him and urged him to run. Confusion reigned as students ran in different directions, defying the protocols they had learned during active shooter drills. Fear took over, leaving Joseph shaken and his mother in tears. Their sense of security had been shattered, and they knew that healing would take time.

Mercedes, Joseph’s 16-year-old junior sister, had been running late that morning and had not yet left their house when the shooting began. She described the events as shocking and surreal. Just days before, she had wondered about the safety measures in place during her wrestling meets, considering the possibility of a gunman entering the venue. Now, that fear had become a horrifying reality. She had heard that a girl from her math class had been critically injured and was fighting for her life in the hospital. Another boy she knew had been shot in the arm.

What made it even more unsettling was that the TikTok creator, the person identified as the shooter, had been in Mercedes’ Connections class, a class that aimed to help students build social skills. He had seemed friendly, often sitting near Mercedes and entertaining the class with his silly raps. On any other day, she would have been happy to see him in the hallways. But now, the thought of returning to school filled her with dread.

The shooting at Perry High School has left the community in shock. The students and staff will need time to heal and come to terms with the trauma they have experienced. The support of the community, counseling services, and a united effort will be crucial in helping these individuals rebuild their lives and feel safe once again. This small town never expected such a tragedy to occur within its borders, but now, they must rally together and support one another through this unimaginable ordeal..