An Iowa community is in shock after a 17-year-old student opened fire at Perry High School, killing one student and injuring five others. Dylan Butler, a senior at the school, allegedly targeted the victims before turning the gun on himself.
Classmates revealed that Butler had been a long-time victim of bullying, and the situation became even more distressing when his younger sister also experienced it, as per Daily Mail.
Perry High School Shooter Dylan Butler
The tragic incident occurred on Thursday morning when police responded to an active shooter report at the high school in Perry, a city located about 30 miles northwest of Des Moines. Armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, Butler began shooting, resulting in the death of a sixth grader who attended Perry Middle School.
While the identity of the victim has not been released, officials have stated that the injured individuals are expected to survive.
Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her condolences to the community, calling the shooting a "senseless tragedy" that has shaken Perry and the entire state. The motive for the shooting remains unknown as the investigation is ongoing.
During a news conference, Mitch Mortvedt, the assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, revealed that responding officers found victims who had been shot and the shooter dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Additionally, an "improvised explosive device" was discovered, but it was rendered safe by the state fire marshal and the federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives.
Evidence suggests that Butler acted alone, and authorities have noted that he made several social media posts before and around the time of the shooting. The attack occurred before the start of the school day, when only a few students and faculty members were present on campus due to a breakfast program.
As details emerge, it has been reported that Butler shared a cryptic video on his now-deleted social media just moments before the shooting. The video, analyzed by the media, depicted Butler in a school bathroom stall with a blue duffle bag at his feet, according to NBC News.
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Iowa School Shooter's Disturbing Social Media Posts
The caption accompanying the video read, "Now we wait." The unsettling footage was set to the song "Stray Bullet" by the rock group KMFDM, featuring lyrics such as "I'm your nightmare coming true, I am your worst enemy" and "Stray bullet, from the barrel of love."
The Perry High School campus, which houses both a middle school and high school, is located in a small town approximately 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. Investigators have also discovered other photos on Butler's social media accounts, which show him posing with firearms.
Classmates and family members have come forward, alleging that Butler had been a victim of persistent bullying since elementary school. The situation worsened when his sister became a target as well. The family had brought the matter to the attention of the school, but it remains unclear if any action was taken in response to their complaints.
"Yesenia Roeder Hall, 17, stated, 'He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment.' Although she acknowledges that retaliating by shooting up the school was not a wise decision, the tragedy provides a grim reminder of the consequences of unchecked bullying.
As the investigation continues, the community mourns the loss of a student's life and grapples with the aftermath of this unfortunate event. The incident serves as a somber reminder of the importance of addressing bullying in schools and ensuring the safety and well-being of students, WION reported.
