PERRY, Iowa — A 17-year-old student at a small-town Iowa high school opened fire on the first day back from winter break, tragically killing a sixth-grader and injuring seven others. The victims included four students and three staffers. The suspected shooter was later identified as Dylan Butler, a student at Perry High School. Following the shooting, school superintendent Clark Wicks announced that classes will be canceled for the entire next week, with a planned return date of Friday, Jan. 12 for elementary and middle school students.
In a press conference, Superintendent Wicks provided updates on the situation. He confirmed that the shooter, Butler, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The authorities, however, have yet to disclose any information regarding the motive behind the shooting or how the student obtained the firearms.
Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger is among the seven individuals wounded, with him and two students remaining hospitalized as of Friday. With a great sense of loss and shock, the Iowa community rallied together to show support, holding a candlelight vigil in a local park to mourn the victims and pray for those impacted by the tragedy.
The tragic incident sent ripples of shock throughout the community, and as families mourn their losses, investigations into the motive behind the shooting continue.————–