Perry, Iowa — Authorities say a 6th grader was shot to death and five other people were wounded during a shooting Thursday morning in Perry High School — and the 17-year-old suspect, who was a student at the school, died of a self-inflicted gunshot.
Four students and a school administrator are hospitalized. At last report, one of them was in critical condition but was expected to survive. During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn was emotional as he praised teachers, staff, and students for acting bravely and heroically during a tragic situation.
Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, says the suspect has been identified as Dillon Butler and he was armed with two weapons — a pump action shotgun and a small caliber handgun.
Mortvedt says all evidence at this time suggests the 17-year-old acted alone.
Mortvedt said he had not seen a TikTok video allegedly recorded Thursday morning by Butler that has been reposted on social media platforms. A reporter at the news conference asked Mortvedt if investigators had determined a motive for the shooting.
Governor Kim Reynolds opened Thursday afternoon’s news conference with a message to the Perry community.
Reynolds has ordered all flags in the state to be lowered to half-staff until sunset on Sunday in support of the students, families, teachers, and staff of Perry schools and the Perry community.
