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Accident – death – Obituary News : PERRY, Iowa — A tragic incident unfolded on the first day of school after the winter break at a small-town Iowa high school. A 17-year-old student opened fire, resulting in the death of a sixth grader and the injury of five others. The suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, died from what investigators believe was a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown.
The shooting took place at Perry High School in Perry, a town with approximately 8,000 residents located about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. The high school and middle school are connected, situated on the east edge of town. Students and staff found themselves in a terrifying situation as they barricaded themselves in offices and fled in panic.
Eyewitness accounts describe the chaos and fear that gripped the school. Perry High School senior Ava Augustus was in a counselor’s office when she heard three shots. Students quickly barricaded the door, ready to defend themselves if necessary. Augustus tearfully recounted the moment when they were finally given the all-clear to leave, witnessing the aftermath of the shooting with shattered glass and blood on the floor.
Emergency responders swiftly arrived at the scene, and three gunshot victims were transported by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines. Additional patients were taken to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center. The high school announced its closure for the following day, with counseling services organized at the public library to support the shaken community.
The shooting in Perry has drawn attention and concern from national figures. U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland received a briefing on the incident, while FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office are assisting with the investigation. Politicians, including GOP candidate Vivek Ramaswamy and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, offered their thoughts on the tragedy, with Ramaswamy emphasizing the need to address the psychological sickness underlying such events.
The shooting occurred against the backdrop of Iowa’s first-in-the-nation presidential caucuses. Calls for stricter gun laws have been reignited by gun safety advocates, although such proposals traditionally face opposition in rural, GOP-leaning states like Iowa. As of July 2021, Iowa does not require a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, but a background check is mandatory for those buying handguns without a permit.
Perry, Iowa, is home to the Perry Community School District, which includes the high school and serves 1,785 students. The town itself is more diverse than the state of Iowa, with a significant Hispanic population of 31% compared to less than 7% for the state. Almost 19% of Perry’s residents were born outside the U.S.
The incident has left a lasting impact on the community, with parents anxiously waiting to hear if their children are safe. The tragic shooting serves as a reminder of the increasing frequency of mass shootings in the United States. Data analysis by The Marshall Project indicates a rising trend in mass shootings, with higher death tolls in recent years. While mass shootings account for only a fraction of daily firearm deaths, they continue to spark debates and calls for action on gun control.
As the community of Perry mourns the loss of a young life and grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, support and counseling services are being offered to help residents cope with the tragedy..
