PERRY, Iowa (AP) — The principal of Perry High School in Iowa, Dan Marburger, is being hailed as a hero after he put himself in harm’s way during a school shooting on Thursday morning. Marburger was critically injured while trying to protect his students from a teenage shooter in the school cafeteria.

The shooting occurred just before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. As students were gathering for breakfast, the 17-year-old shooter opened fire, causing chaos and panic among the students and staff. Marburger, along with six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, sustained injuries in the incident. Tragically, one sixth-grader lost his life. The shooter later died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

The Iowa Department of Public Safety commended Marburger for his selfless act, stating that he placed himself in harm’s way to protect his students. Marburger is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Des Moines.

Following the shooting, the community of Perry was left in shock and mourning. The school campus was still cordoned off with yellow crime tape, and small memorials with flowers and stuffed toys had been created in remembrance of the victims. Classes throughout the district were canceled on Friday to provide counseling and support to students and staff.

Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks announced that classes in the town would resume no earlier than the following Friday. He acknowledged the pain and difficulty the entire school community was going through and emphasized the need for time to heal and remember.

The shooting, which started in the cafeteria, quickly spilled outside but was contained to the north end of the school. Ahmir Jollif, an 11-year-old student, was tragically killed in the incident. An autopsy revealed that he had suffered three gunshot wounds. Authorities initially reported five injured individuals, but the number later increased to seven after two more faculty members came forward with their injuries.

While Marburger and two students remained hospitalized, Marburger’s daughter took to Facebook to update well-wishers on his condition. She described her father as a “gentle giant” and expressed her belief that he would willingly put himself in harm’s way to protect his students.

During the investigation, authorities discovered that the shooter, identified as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. They also found an improvised explosive device among Butler’s belongings, which was safely disarmed. The motive behind the shooting remains unknown, and law enforcement officials are conducting interviews and analyzing Butler’s social media profiles for clues.

Friends of Butler revealed that he had been a victim of relentless bullying since elementary school. The bullying intensified recently when his younger sister also became a target. The friends emphasized that while Butler’s actions were not justified, he had reached a breaking point due to the constant harassment.

The investigation into the shooting will delve into Butler’s background and the school environment. It aims to provide a comprehensive understanding of the circumstances leading up to the tragedy. Perry school district officials assured that they take every bullying situation seriously and strive to maintain a safe and inclusive atmosphere.

Butler’s parents, who are well-known figures in the Perry community, have not responded to media requests for comment. Meanwhile, the tight-knit community came together for a candlelight prayer vigil at a local park to support and comfort one another.

Perry is a small town with approximately 8,000 residents located about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. Despite the shock and grief caused by the shooting, Perry Mayor Dirk Cavanaugh expressed confidence in the community’s ability to overcome this tragedy by coming together and supporting one another.