Tragic School Shooting in Iowa: 6th Grade Student killed and 5 Others Injured

TEMPO.CO, Iowa, the United States – A devastating incident unfolded on Thursday morning, January 4th, as a 17-year-old opened fire at an Iowa school, resulting in the death of a sixth-grade student and the injury of five others. The shooting occurred on the first day of classes following the winter break, leaving the community in shock and mourning.

The suspect, identified as Dylan Butler, was a student at Perry High School, according to officials who provided details during a news briefing. Tragically, Butler was found dead with a self-inflicted gunshot wound when responding officers arrived at the scene.

During the investigation, law enforcement officers discovered an improvised explosive device at the high school. Mitch Mortvedt, an assistant director with the state Department of Criminal Investigation, confirmed that members of the state fire marshal’s office and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives safely rendered the device inert.

The Iowa school shooting, which occurred on the district’s first day of classes in 2024, is yet another tragic incident in the alarming trend of increasing gun violence in U.S. schools in recent years.

According to the K-12 School Shooting Database, there were a staggering 346 incidents of guns being brandished or fired at schools, or bullets hitting school property in 2023. This marked the highest number of incidents in the database’s history, which dates back to 1966, and represented the third consecutive year of record-setting figures.

Shockingly, four school shooting incidents have already taken place in 2024 within just the first four days of the year, further highlighting the urgency to address this pressing issue.

Perry, a town with a population of approximately 7,900, is located about 40 miles (64 km) northwest of Des Moines, the capital city of Iowa. The middle and high schools in Perry share a single campus.

The attack occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. (13:30 GMT), before most students and faculty had entered the building. Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun, Dylan Butler initiated the horrifying incident, as stated by Mortvedt.

Law enforcement officials revealed that Butler had made several posts on social media around the time of the shooting. However, the motive behind this senseless act of violence remains under investigation.

Out of the five wounded victims, four are students, while the fifth is a school administrator. Mortvedt refrained from disclosing the names of the victims. However, another school district, Easton Valley, issued a statement acknowledging that Dan Marburger, the high school principal, was the administrator injured in the attack.

Mortvedt further mentioned that one victim is in critical condition but is not believed to be facing life-threatening injuries, whereas the other four victims are in stable condition.

Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her condolences and support for the community affected by this tragic event during the news briefing, stating, “This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to the core, and I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.”

The investigation into the shooting is being aided by FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office, and U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland has been briefed on the incident, according to a spokesperson from the Department of Justice.

White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre emphasized the need to take action, stating, “We cannot allow these tragedies to continue. We have to do something.”

Republican presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy had initially planned to hold a rally in Perry. However, in light of the shooting, the campaign spokesperson announced that the event would be transformed into an in-person prayer meeting.

Iowa is set to hold the first statewide contest for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination in 11 days, adding another layer of significance to the tragic incident in Perry.

Vivek Ramaswamy expressed his thoughts and prayers for the community in Perry on the X social media platform, saying, “Pray for the community in Perry, Iowa this morning.”

REUTERS

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