A recent investigation into a tragic shooting at a high school in Perry, Iowa, has revealed alarming new details about the events that unfolded on January 4, when a 17-year-old student opened fire on his peers and school staff. The report indicates that the shooter attempted to livestream his actions during the incident.
Perry, located approximately 40 miles northwest of Des Moines, faced a devastating situation when Dylan Butler opened fire shortly before classes resumed after the winter break. In a shocking turn of events, Butler took his own life shortly after beginning the attack.
The incident transpired in the school’s commons area, where around 50 students and staff had gathered for breakfast. The report indicates that Butler arrived at the school at 7:12 a.m., armed with a shotgun, revolver, knife, and a homemade explosive device. He initially went to a restroom adjacent to the commons area, where he reportedly posted on social media and began a livestream.
Twenty-three minutes later, Butler exited the restroom armed and began firing. In the first 24 seconds of the shooting, he fatally shot 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and injured four other students, as well as Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger.
The investigation report, compiled by the Dallas County Attorney’s Office, confirms the courageous actions of Principal Marburger and Assistant Principal Brad Snowgren, who rushed towards the gunfire to intervene. Snowgren quickly activated an alarm to alert first responders just 10 seconds after the shooting began, ensuring that help was on the way. Initial reports initially indicated that law enforcement entered the school in “less than seven minutes,” but the new findings clarify that officers arrived in under two minutes.
Despite being wounded early in the incident, Principal Marburger stayed behind to plead with Butler to stop shooting. After confronting the shooter again more than a minute later, Marburger suffered critical injuries and subsequently died from his wounds in a Des Moines hospital.
Dallas County Attorney Jeannine Ritchie stated that the investigation concluded Butler acted alone, with no evidence suggesting others had prior knowledge of his intentions or assisted him. Investigators are still working to determine the source of the shotgun used in the shooting, though evidence implies it was taken without the owner’s knowledge.
“The evidence suggests his actions that morning were indiscriminate and driven by a desire to commit suicide with hostile intent toward others,” Ritchie commented.
The report also noted that while school staff frequently interacted with Butler, there were no warning signs or prior reports regarding his intentions that day. No previous investigations or threat assessments had been made concerning Butler, raising concerns about how such tragedies can be prevented in the future.
