Things to know about a school shooting in the small Iowa town of Perry
A small town in Iowa is stunned but pulling together after a school shooting in which a 17-year-old killed a sixth-grade student and wounded seven other people before authorities say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Many questions remain about how the shooting unfolded and what might have led up to it, but a few details have emerged.
Here are some things to know about Thursday's shooting at Perry High School:
WHAT HAPPENEDAccording to authorities and school officials, a teenage student armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun opened fire at Perry High School just after 7:30 a.m. Thursday, shortly before classes were set to begin on the first day back after winter break. Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said the shooting started in the cafeteria, where students from several grades were eating breakfast, then spilled outside the cafeteria.
The student who was killed, 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, was shot three times, though details about where he was at the time have not been released. Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger and six others, including two staff members and four teenage students, suffered injuries ranging from significant to minor. The high-schooler identified as the shooter, Dylan Butler, died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.
Butler also had what authorities called a "rudimentary” improvised explosive device that was safely disarmed.
Police said they believe Butler acted alone.
STORIES OF SELFLESSNESSWhile authorities have said little about what happened inside the school, some stories of bravery and selflessness have begun to emerge.
Authorities have said Marburger, who has been principal since 1995, put himself in harm's way in an apparent effort to protect students. Perry...