At least five people were shot and one child was killed in a school shooting Thursday morning in a small Iowa town.
Police responded to a report of a shooting at Perry High School at 7:37 a.m., before classes started on the first day of school after winter break. Officers arrived on the scene less than seven minutes later and found several gunshot victims.
Mitch Maltvedt, deputy director of the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation, said at an afternoon news conference that the suspected shooter has been identified as Dylan Butler, 17, a student at the school. Butler was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Four of the surviving victims were taken to hospital, one with serious but non-life-threatening injuries and four in stable condition. Four of the surviving victims are students and one is a school administrator.
Michigan shooter Ethan Crumbley tells court: “I'm a really bad person'' and sentenced to life in prison
West Des Moines Police vehicles are at the scene at Perry High School on Thursday, January 4, 2024 in Perry, Iowa. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante earlier told reporters the shooting occurred before classes started.
“Fortunately, there were very few students and faculty in the building, so I think that contributed to a positive outcome in that sense,” Infante said.
Authorities also found a “rudimentary” improvised explosive device inside the school, which was now safe, Moltvedt added at a 4 p.m. ET news conference.
Maltvedt added that Butler had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun and posted on social media before and after the shooting.
sheriff's office, perry police station The FBI and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) responded to the shooting.
“Our prayers are with the entire Perry community,” Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds said at an afternoon news conference, adding that the shooting “has shaken our entire state to its core…The entire state of Iowa stands with you.” I will,” he added.
She said investigators are “working tirelessly to get answers” about why the shooting happened.
CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP
Perry is a town of approximately 8,000 people. The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
