“Perry High School Shooting: Funeral Services Held for Student Dylan Butler, Who Killed Principal and Another Student”

Accident – Death – Obituary News : Private Funeral Services to be Held for Perry High School Shooter

The family of Dylan Butler, the 17-year-old student who tragically shot and killed the principal and another student at Perry High School on January 4th, will be holding private family funeral services for him. Dylan died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The obituary, posted online on Monday, did not provide any details regarding the date or location of the services.

Authorities have confirmed that Dylan killed 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and wounded Principal Dan Marburger, who later succumbed to his injuries at a Des Moines hospital on Sunday. Four students and two staff members were also wounded in the incident. One of the hospitalized students was released on Monday, according to a Facebook post by his mother.

Dylan’s obituary highlights his love for the outdoors and his childhood experiences growing up on an acreage in Jamaica, a small town in Guthrie County. It mentions his fondness for fishing, trips to a sandbar on an ATV, and playing in the snow with the neighbor dogs. After his sister was born, the family moved to Perry, where Dylan enjoyed swimming and playing with the neighbor children. They later moved to a new home surrounded by timber, where Dylan would explore with his sister and search for mushrooms with his father. The obituary also mentions Dylan’s passion for music, as he had learned to play both the piano and the guitar.

Described as a kindhearted soul with a compassionate and caring nature, Dylan was accepting of everyone. He had an affinity for all things vintage and nostalgic, according to his obituary.

Dylan’s parents, Jake and Erin Butler, released a statement earlier this month expressing their disbelief and sorrow over their son’s actions. They had no indication that he intended to commit such a violent act when they dropped him off at school that morning. The Butlers expressed their gratitude for the grace and support they have received from the community, promising to assist the authorities in understanding why their son carried out this senseless crime.

Perry High School’s community has shown remarkable grace towards Dylan’s parents. Claire Marburger, the daughter of the late Principal Dan Marburger, urged the community to extend their understanding to the Butler family, emphasizing that individuals should not be defined by the mistakes or actions of their children or parents. Fundraising efforts are underway to support all the families affected by the shooting, including the Butlers.

As of now, there are no updates on the Perry investigation. Mitch Mortvedt, spokesperson for the state Division of Criminal Investigation, stated that no new information is available at this time.

In addition to Dylan’s parents, survivors include his sister, Chloe, grandmothers Barb Butler of Perry and Pam Munson of Madrid, and grandfather Ray Munson of Woodward. The obituary suggests making donations to Raccoon Valley Pet Rescue in lieu of flowers.

Chris Higgins, who covers the eastern suburbs for the Des Moines Register, contributed to this report. Contact him at chiggins@registermedia.com or 515-423-5146, and follow him on Twitter @chris_higgins_..