“Iowa Principal Injured and 1 Student Dead in School Shooting: Heroic Actions of Dan Marburger in Protecting Students”

Accident – death – Obituary News : An Iowa principal is being hailed as a hero after he put himself in harm’s way to protect students during a school shooting that took place at Perry High School on Thursday morning. Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, were injured in the shooting, which left one sixth-grader dead. The 17-year-old shooter also died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

According to the state Department of Public Safety, Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way to protect his students. Details have also emerged about other victims, including 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, who was shot three times and did not survive. Several people helped others to safety, and classes in the district will not resume before next Friday at the earliest.

The number of victims increased from five to seven after investigators learned about two more wounded faculty members. All seven victims suffered wounds or injuries of varying degrees, ranging from significant to minor. Marburger and two students remain hospitalized, but Marburger’s daughter reported that he is stable after undergoing surgery.

Authorities have praised Marburger and other staff members for their heroic actions during the shooting. Middle School Assistant Principal Adam Jessen, for instance, carried a wounded student to safety. One mother, Bobbi Bushbaum, expressed her gratitude to those who helped her son Corey, who was shot multiple times and underwent surgery. Corey will require weeks to recover and won’t be able to walk during that time.

The shooting took place just before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. The suspect, Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Authorities also found an improvised explosive device among Butler’s belongings, which was safely disarmed.

Investigators are looking into Butler’s background and possible motives for the shooting. Friends of Butler stated that he had been relentlessly bullied since elementary school, and the bullying escalated recently when his younger sister became a target as well. However, they emphasized that shooting up the school was not a smart solution. Police believe Butler acted alone but have not yet determined how he obtained the firearms.

The Perry community, with approximately 8,000 residents, came together for a candlelight prayer vigil to support the victims and their families. Despite the shock of the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence in the community’s ability to come together and heal.

Perry High School is part of the Perry Community School District, which has approximately 1,785 students. The town of Perry is known for its diversity, with a significant Hispanic population and a relatively high percentage of residents born outside the U.S.

The investigation into the shooting is ongoing, and authorities are working to understand who Dylan Butler was and the environment at the school. The parents of the shooter, who have been active members of the Perry community, have not yet commented on the incident..