“Perry High School Principal Critically Injured in School Shooting While Protecting Students: Victim Identified”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : PERRY, Iowa (AP) — An Iowa principal is being hailed as a hero after he put himself at risk to protect students during a school shooting. Principal Dan Marburger of Perry High School was critically injured in the incident, which took place on Thursday morning. Tragically, one sixth-grade student lost their life in the shooting. The 17-year-old gunman, identified as Dylan Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

According to the state Department of Public Safety, Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to shield his students from danger. Marburger is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Des Moines.

The shooting has left the small community of Perry in mourning. The school campus, shared by Perry High School and the town’s middle school, remains cordoned off with yellow crime tape. Mini memorials of flowers and stuffed toys have been set up in remembrance, and classes across the district were canceled on Friday to provide counseling and support to students and staff.

The incident occurred just after 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, moments before classes were set to begin on the first day back after the winter break. The suspect, armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, opened fire, forcing people to seek shelter in classrooms and offices.

Authorities discovered a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device during their investigation, which they safely rendered inactive. Federal and state investigators are currently interviewing Butler’s friends and analyzing his social media profiles, including posts on TikTok and Reddit, in an effort to determine a possible motive for the shooting.

Friends of the shooter described him as a quiet person who had been bullied for years. Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, along with their mother Alita, revealed that Butler had been relentlessly bullied since elementary school, and the harassment intensified when his younger sister became a target as well. They emphasized that while Butler’s actions were not justified, they believed he was driven to a breaking point.

Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior at Perry High School, expressed confidence in Principal Marburger’s commitment to addressing instances of bullying. Kares, who fled the scene during the shooting, described Marburger as an amazing man who was always proactive in resolving issues of bullying within the school.

Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks and the district’s school board have not yet responded to questions regarding the school’s response to the bullying claims made by Butler’s friends.

Police arrived at the scene within minutes of the active shooter report, and several victims were transported to local hospitals for treatment. Two additional people were reported injured on Friday, with one in critical condition. The town of Perry came together on Thursday night for a candlelight prayer vigil, where clergy from various faiths offered messages of hope and support.

Perry, with a population of approximately 8,000 residents, is located about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. It is known for its pork-processing plant and its diverse community. Census data indicates that 31 percent of Perry’s residents are Hispanic, compared to less than 7 percent statewide.

The tragic incident has reignited calls for stricter gun laws in the wake of numerous mass shootings in the U.S. Gun safety advocates have been urging for more comprehensive regulations, but resistance from Republicans, particularly in rural states like Iowa, has hindered significant progress.

Despite the devastating events, the community of Perry remains resilient, coming together to support one another in the face of tragedy..