Heroic Iowa Principal Injured in School Shooting

PERRY, Iowa (AP) — A brave Iowa principal was critically injured in a school shooting after putting himself in harm’s way to protect his students. The incident occurred in the cafeteria of Perry High School, where students were gathering for breakfast before the start of classes. Authorities have praised Principal Dan Marburger’s selfless actions, stating that he acted courageously to ensure the safety of his students.

The shooting, which took place on Thursday morning, resulted in injuries to Marburger, two staff members, and four teenage students. Tragically, one sixth-grader, Ahmir Jollif, lost his life in the incident. The 17-year-old shooter, identified as Dylan Butler, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.

The state Department of Public Safety commended Marburger for his heroic actions, stating that he placed himself in harm’s way to protect his students. As the Perry community grapples with the aftermath of the shooting, the atmosphere remains somber. The school campus is still cordoned off with yellow crime tape, and memorials consisting of flowers and stuffed toys have been set up to remember the victims. Classes across the district have been canceled to provide counseling and support to students and staff.

Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks announced that classes will resume next Friday, allowing time for the community to mourn and heal. He described the current situation as extremely painful and difficult for the entire school community.

Details of the Shooting

The shooting occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, just before classes were scheduled to begin after the winter break. It started in the cafeteria, where students from different grades were having breakfast, before spilling outside but remaining contained to the north end of the school.

Tragically, 11-year-old Ahmir Jollif lost his life in the shooting. An autopsy revealed that he had been shot three times. Initially, authorities reported that five students and two staff members were injured, but the number increased as investigators discovered two more wounded faculty members. All seven victims suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor.

Currently, Marburger and two students remain hospitalized. Marburger’s daughter, Claire, provided an update on her father’s condition, stating that he underwent surgery and is now stable. She described her father as a “gentle giant” and expressed how it was not surprising that he tried to protect his students.

Investigation and Possible Motive

Authorities found that Butler, the shooter, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. They also discovered a rudimentary improvised explosive device among his belongings, which experts safely disarmed. While investigators continue to interview Butler’s friends and analyze his social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit, no clear motive has been established for the shooting.

Shortly before the incident, Butler posted a photo on TikTok inside the school’s bathroom with the caption “now we wait,” accompanied by the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM. Investigators also found photos of Butler posing with firearms on his social media accounts.

Friends of Butler revealed that he had been relentlessly bullied since elementary school, which escalated recently when his younger sister also became a target. While this does not excuse his actions, it sheds light on the struggles Butler faced.

Community Response and Perry’s Diversity

Following the shooting, a candlelight prayer vigil was held at a park where students were reunited with their families. Despite the freezing temperatures, hundreds of community members attended the vigil, where clergy members from various faiths offered messages of hope and unity.

Perry, a small town with approximately 8,000 residents, is known for its pork-processing plant and picturesque single-story homes. The town is more diverse than the rest of Iowa, with a significant Hispanic population and a higher percentage of foreign-born residents.

Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence in the community’s resilience, stating that despite the shock of the shooting, they will come together to support one another.