Perry, Iowa – Multiple individuals sustained injuries during a shooting at Perry High School in the US state of Iowa on Thursday morning, police announced. The suspect has been confirmed dead, and reports are unclear if the death was due to a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to CBS News. The number and severity of injuries are still under evaluation by officials.
The incident occurred on the first day back to school for students following their winter break. Law enforcement received reports of an active shooter around 07:40 local time (13:40 GMT), and the first officer arrived at the scene within seven minutes. Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante stated, “Luckily, there was very few students and faculty in the building, which I think contributed to a good outcome in that sense.” This reassurance was followed by reports that there was no further threat to the community.
One parent, Kevin Shelley, disclosed that his 15-year-old son was injured in the hallway during the shooting but fortunately survived. Additionally, injured students were transported to the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center for treatment. Law enforcement, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation and The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, are present at the scene, with the Iowa Department of Criminal Investigation leading the inquiry.
As of now, most of the students have been reunited with their families. The terrible incident has prompted US President Joe Biden to be briefed about the situation and to be in contact with the state’s governor’s office. The town of Perry, home to less than 10,000 residents, is located about 40 miles northwest of Iowa’s capital, Des Moines.
No school will be in session for Perry on Friday, and officials have planned to hold another news conference on Thursday afternoon to provide further updates. The shooting comes just days before the Iowa caucuses begin, marking the start of the 2024 Republican primary process.