Perry, Iowa – On January 4, 2024, Dylan Butler, a 17-year-old senior at Perry High School, carried out a deadly shooting at the school. Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, he fatally shot a sixth-grader and injured five others, including Principal Dan Marburger. Butler then died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
During a press conference, Assistant Director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Mitch Mortvedt revealed that a rudimentary improvised explosive device was also found and disarmed at the scene. Mortvedt did not provide further details about the victims but mentioned that one was in critical condition, while the other four were stable.
Social media posts made by Butler before the shooting have come under scrutiny, with reports indicating that he was active online moments before the incident. A photo posted on TikTok shortly before the shooting, with a caption reading “now we wait,” has been brought to light. Additionally, authorities found other photos of Butler posing with firearms on his social media account, all of which have since been removed.
Amidst the investigation, reports have suggested that Butler was the victim of relentless bullying at school. Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, students at Perry High School, shared that he had been bullied since elementary school. They also mentioned that his younger sister had become a recent target of bullies.
The Perry, Iowa shooting, which claimed the life of a sixth-grader and left several others injured, occurred on the first day back from the holiday break. This tragic incident marks the second school shooting in 2024, highlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in educational institutions.
In summary, the shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, carried out by 17-year-old Dylan Butler, led to the death of a sixth-grader and injuries to multiple individuals, including the school’s principal. The incident has raised concerns about the role of social media and the persistent issue of bullying in schools.