Classes Canceled After Iowa Gunman Attacks Campus

Update: Monday, January 8, 2024

The 17-year-old shooter in Perry, Iowa, accessed his Discord internet chat account “took2much” to describe his intent “gearing up” before his attack on fellow students at the high school. Shot three times, sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff, 11, was killed in the attack, while four others were injured, including principal Dan Marburger.

The shooter died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Clearly, from the messages the shooter posted, he had every intent on mayhem on campus that day. Included in his postings, “I’m f------ nervous, I’m the bathroom gearing up.” His messages also included a racial slur, “There’s a n----- in the bathroom, I need him to leave so I can assemble my guns.”

A Discord spokesperson said the online chat room said the company had taken action against the shooters account, and later released this statement.

“Our deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and the community in Perry, Iowa following yesterday’s horrific shooting. Discord has a zero-tolerance policy against content that glorifies violence and violent extremism, which is reflected in our Community Guidelines. We took immediate action against the suspect and his content, and are currently cooperating with law enforcement to assist them in their continuing investigation.”

UPDATE: 3:34 p.m. CT

Authorities in Iowa have identified the shooter at Perry High School as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, as the shooter at the campus where one student was killed. A sixth-grade student at Perry Middle School was killed in the shooting.

The middle school is connected to the high school. Responding police officers found the shooter dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. Officers also found a “rudimentary” IED, which was disarmed without incident.

Five people were injured in the shooting, including a school administrator. One of the students is in critical condition. Law enforcement responded within 7 minutes of the alert from school officials.

This story will be updated as new items become available.


Dylan Butler

12:04 p.m. CT

Classes have been canceled at Perry High School, Iowa, as well as students dismissed from other K-12 facilities after an armed attacker opened fire inside a rural Iowa high school on the first day back from winter break Thursday morning. At least one student is reportedly dead from the shooting.

The shooter shot at and hit two students and administrator, before turning the gun on himself. There are multiple gunshot victims reported. The shooting started at 7:47 a.m. central time, when very few students and faculty were in the building.

Local law enforcement converged on the building, heavily armed and expecting a confrontation with the gunman. Parents and students were reunited following the shooting at the McCreary Community Building. Perry High School is located about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines.

An early morning jazz band practice was disrupted when the instructor told the musicians to run, after hearing four gunshots.

Authorities have declined at this point to say how many people were shot other than one fatality. Details on the shooter were not provided either. Two gunshot victims were taken by ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, according to a spokesperson for UnityPoint Health.

The high school campus also is shared by middle school students, and campus officials states there is no longer any threat to the public. Perry High School is located in a community of about 8,000 people.

Reports have surfaced that principal Dan Marburger had been shot, but not confirmed in this evolving incident. More details will be updated as they become available.

About the Author

Ralph C. Jensen is the Publisher of Security Today magazine.

Featured

  • DHS Releases Framework for Safe, Secure Deployment of AI in Critical Infrastructure

    The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) released a set of recommendations for the safe and secure development and deployment of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in critical infrastructure, the “Roles and Responsibilities Framework for Artificial Intelligence in Critical Infrastructure” Read Now

  • Making the Grade with Locks and Door Hardware

    Managing and maintaining locks and door hardware across a school district or university campus is a big responsibility. A building’s security needs to change over time as occupancy and use demands evolve, which can make it even more challenging. Knowing the basics of common door hardware, including locks, panic devices and door closers, can make a difference in daily operations and emergency situations. Read Now

  • Choosing the Right Solution

    Today, there is a strong shift from on-prem installations to cloud or hybrid-cloud deployments. As reported in the 2024 Genetec State of Physical Security report, 66% of end users said they will move to managing or storing more physical security in the cloud over the next two years. Read Now

  • New Report Reveals Top Security Risks for U.S. Retail Chains

    Interface Systems, a provider of security, actionable insights, and purpose-built networks for multi-location businesses, has released its 2024 State of Remote Video Monitoring in Retail Chains report. The detailed study analyzed over 2 million monitoring requests across 4,156 retail locations in the United States from September 2023 to August 2024. Read Now

Featured Cybersecurity

Webinars

New Products

  • Unified VMS

    AxxonSoft introduces version 2.0 of the Axxon One VMS. The new release features integrations with various physical security systems, making Axxon One a unified VMS. Other enhancements include new AI video analytics and intelligent search functions, hardened cybersecurity, usability and performance improvements, and expanded cloud capabilities 3

  • Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation.

    Connect ONE®

    Connect ONE’s powerful cloud-hosted management platform provides the means to tailor lockdowns and emergency mass notifications throughout a facility – while simultaneously alerting occupants to hazards or next steps, like evacuation. 3

  • Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems V07

    Automatic Systems, an industry-leading manufacturer of pedestrian and vehicle secure entrance control access systems, is pleased to announce the release of its groundbreaking V07 software. The V07 software update is designed specifically to address cybersecurity concerns and will ensure the integrity and confidentiality of Automatic Systems applications. With the new V07 software, updates will be delivered by means of an encrypted file. 3