A tragic incident unfolded in Perry, Iowa, as a sixth-grader lost their life and five others sustained injuries when a 17-year-old gunman opened fire at Perry High School. The assailant was later found dead from what appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The shooting occurred on Thursday morning, shortly before classes were scheduled to commence, prompting a swift response from law enforcement.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante revealed during a news conference that the incident was reported at 7:37 a.m., and deputies were on-site within seven minutes. The injured comprised four students and one administrator, Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, whose identity was later disclosed by his alma mater. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt provided an update on the victims’ conditions, stating that four were stable, while one remained in critical condition but was expected to survive.
The suspected gunman was identified as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, a student at Perry High School. Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, Butler also had a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive device, which was safely neutralized by the state fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Assuring the public of safety, Sheriff Infante stated, “There is no further danger to the public. The community is safe.” Emergency medical services transported two gunshot victims from Perry High School to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, approximately 40 miles away.
Perry, a city with a population of about 7,836, witnessed this tragic event on the first day back to school for more than 1,700 students in the Perry Community School District after the annual winter break. The high school and middle school share a building, and the incident occurred during a breakfast function involving students from various grade levels.
Developments following the shooting include the reunification of all families of victims transported to medical centers, as confirmed by Polk County Healthcare Systems. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy,” and pledged to monitor the situation closely.
LifeServe Blood Center, the primary blood provider to hospitals in Dallas County, responded to the shooting by actively sending blood and blood products to Des Moines area medical facilities. The organization urged people to donate blood at its locations throughout Dallas County.
The incident took place just ahead of the Iowa caucuses and in proximity to where Republican candidates were campaigning. Several political figures expressed their sorrow and support for the affected community. Republican candidate Vivek Ramaswamy urged prayers for Perry, Iowa, while presidential candidate Nikki Haley emphasized the heartache for the victims and the entire community.
Following the tragedy, all staff across Perry Community School District were released to go home, and a districtwide communication advised against returning to the building. Investigations into the motive and circumstances of the shooting revealed that the suspect, Dylan Butler, posted a photo on TikTok shortly before the incident, accompanied by the caption “now we wait.” Social media posts made by Butler around the time of the shooting are under scrutiny as part of the ongoing investigation.
The TikTok post, featuring the song “Stray Bullet” by KMFDM, was taken down along with Butler’s social media accounts. This song had been infamously associated with the personal website of Eric Harris, one of the perpetrators of the Columbine High School massacre in 1999. Investigators are delving into these posts to gain insights into the events leading up to this tragic school shooting in Perry, Iowa.