PERRY High School Shooting: Community Rallies Together to Support Grieving Students and Staff

PERRY — In the aftermath of the tragic shooting at Perry High School, the school district and its partners are working tirelessly to provide support for those affected by the violence.

Yesterday, a 17-year-old student opened fire at the high school, resulting in the death of an 11-year-old boy and injuries to seven other students and staff members, including the principal. The entire community has come together to offer their support during this difficult time.

“We are overwhelmed by the tremendous support we have received from our community and various organizations,” said Clark Wicks, Superintendent of Perry Community School District. “We have resilient people and we are committed to creating a safe and welcoming environment for our students, just as we have been doing every day up until this point. We will continue to work tirelessly to achieve that.”

At a news conference held on Friday, Superintendent Clark Wicks, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh, and Heartland Area Education Agency Clinical Social Worker Stacey Warren shared the district’s response to the shooting and outlined the next steps.

Dylan Butler, the 17-year-old student responsible for the shooting, brought a shotgun, handgun, and a makeshift bomb to school before classes began. Police responded to a report of shots fired at 7:37 a.m. and arrived at the scene within minutes, finding multiple victims with gunshot wounds.

The Iowa State Medical Examiner confirmed that Butler died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ahmir Jolliff, an 11-year-old student at Perry Middle School, was identified as the deceased victim, with the cause of death being three gunshot wounds. Four other students and three staff members, including Principal Dan Marburger, sustained injuries during the incident.

Principal Marburger remains in critical condition after being shot multiple times, while two students are still hospitalized. Superintendent Wicks praised Marburger’s heroic actions, stating, “Mr. Marburger was a hero. The way he handled the situation undoubtedly saved lives.”

In addition to Marburger, Associate Principal Brad Snowgren and other staff members were commended for their bravery in protecting students and promptly alerting authorities. The students also demonstrated remarkable resilience by following the active shooter training provided by the school.

Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support received from individuals wanting to assist those impacted by the shooting. Raccoon Valley Bank has set up a fund where donations can be made to the district. For those who would like to offer non-monetary assistance, they can contact Joyce Scott, the Executive Assistant of Perry Community School District, at [email protected].

Support Services and Counseling for Students and Staff

Heartland Area Education Agency, in coordination with local mental health professionals and a crisis advocacy team, organized grief support services for over 200 students on Friday. These services will continue from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday to ensure ongoing support for those affected.

Furthermore, approximately 80 staff members from the school district participated in counseling sessions with critical incident stress management professionals, providing them with an opportunity to share their experiences and receive the necessary support.

Stacey Warren, a Clinical Social Worker from Heartland AEA, emphasized the importance of parents monitoring their children’s behavior for any changes that may indicate a need for additional support. She assured parents that Heartland AEA has a range of short-term and long-term resources available to assist those coping with grief.

Temporary Closure of Classes

In light of the incident, high school classes will be suspended for the entire upcoming week. Elementary and middle school students will not return to classrooms before January 12 at the earliest. While the elementary and middle schools were undamaged, the high school requires cleaning and repairs.

Superintendent Wicks acknowledged the importance of prioritizing the mental well-being of both students and staff while also considering the need for education. However, addressing the damages and ensuring the restoration of a safe learning environment remains the immediate focus.

“Our goal is to restore the school to its previous state, just as it looked two weeks ago. We want our students to walk in and see their familiar Perry High School,” stated Wicks. During the school closure, grab-and-go lunches will be provided to students daily between 11 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. at the elementary school.

Superintendent Wicks refrained from commenting on specific incidents or individuals, directing inquiries to law enforcement. Currently, the district’s primary focus is on providing support to the community in any way possible.

“We understand that everyone processes trauma differently, and we are committed to being sensitive to individual needs. Through our collaboration with the AEA and Stacy and her team, we will do everything within our power to help students transition back to school for teaching and learning,” added Wicks.

Cracking Down on Threats

The West Des Moines Police Department issued a warning on Friday, vowing to hold individuals legally accountable for any online threats of violence. This announcement comes after some individuals expressed support for Dylan Butler and following the arrest of a local teenager for making threats against a community school.

In a press release, the police department stated that they have a zero-tolerance policy towards such threats and actions within the community.

18-year-old Lakeeve Arlley Fort from West Des Moines was arrested on Thursday night on a felony charge of threatening terrorism, which carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison.

According to a criminal complaint, Snapchat reported to the Federal Bureau of Investigation that Fort’s account had sent a message asking, “Should I shoot up the school?,” accompanied by a thumbs up or down emoji. Fort allegedly admitted to creating and sending the message to a private Snapchat group a year prior to the Perry shooting. On Thursday, he shared it again as a “memory,” as prompted by the social media app.

Records indicate that two individuals in the Snapchat group were alarmed by the message and urged Fort to delete it.

Jared Strong contributed to this report.