“17-year-old Dylan Butler opens fire at Iowa high school, killing sixth grader and wounding five others”

Accident – death – Obituary News : PERRY, Iowa — Tragedy struck a small-town Iowa high school on the first day back after the winter break when a 17-year-old student opened fire, killing a sixth grader and injuring five others. The suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to authorities.

The shooting took place at Perry High School in Perry, a town of about 8,000 residents located 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. The high school and middle school are connected and sit on the east edge of town. Students and staff members barricaded themselves in offices and fled in panic as the shooting unfolded.

Authorities have not disclosed a possible motive for the shooting. However, friends of Butler and his mother stated that he had been bullied for years. The bullying escalated recently when his younger sister started getting picked on as well. The friends described Butler as a quiet person who had reached a breaking point.

The suspect was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Investigators also discovered a “rudimentary” improvised explosive device, which was rendered safe. The motive for the shooting is currently under investigation, and authorities are examining social media posts made by the suspect around the time of the incident.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger was among the injured, according to an eastern Iowa school district where he graduated from high school. Marburger was identified as an administrator wounded in the shooting. Three gunshot victims were transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center, while others were taken to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. One person is in critical condition, but the injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

In the wake of the shooting, the community of Perry came together for a candlelight prayer vigil. Pastors from various faiths delivered messages of hope, addressing the crowd in both English and Spanish. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds ordered flags to be flown at half-staff in honor of the victims.

President Joe Biden and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland were briefed on the shooting, and FBI agents are assisting with the investigation. The incident has once again ignited the debate on gun control, with advocates calling for stricter laws. Currently, Iowa does not require a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, although a background check is necessary for purchasing without a permit.

This tragic event serves as a reminder of the ongoing issue of school shootings in the United States. Mass shootings have become distressingly frequent, prompting urgent calls for action to address the root causes and prevent further loss of innocent lives..