PERRY, Iowa (AP) — A shooting occurred at Perry High School in Perry, Iowa on Thursday morning. Law enforcement officials and an abundance of emergency vehicles were present at the scene, surrounding the building housing the town’s middle and high schools.
Erica Jolliff, a parent of two students at the school, expressed distress as she searched for her children following the incident. While her ninth grader had been rushed from the school grounds, she was still seeking information on the whereabouts and well-being of her sixth grader. The lack of information from authorities only added to her anxiety.
The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District, and the shooting occurred on the first day back to school for students after the holiday break. Attempts to reach the school board’s president, vice president, and the superintendent for comment were unsuccessful.
As the community grappled with the shooting, Dallas County’s Emergency Management Agency announced plans for a press conference later in the morning. Perry is approximately 40 miles northwest of Des Moines.
Details about the shooting, including the circumstances and the conditions of those involved, were not immediately available. The incident has left the community on edge, and authorities are expected to provide further updates as the investigation unfolds.