Perry, Iowa – A former FBI agent has suggested that the Iowa school shooter’s now-deleted TikTok posts were warning signs leading up to the attack, describing the 17-year-old as a “ticking time bomb”. The posts, including a selfie with the caption “now we wait”, were seen as ominous by former FBI agent Jennifer Coffindaffer.
Dylan Butler, 17, opened fire at Perry High School, killing a sixth grade student and injuring five others, before taking his own life. He used a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun during the attack, according to authorities.
A song titled “Stray Bullet” by German band KMFDM, which was cited by the Columbine school shooter Dylan Klebold, was found on Butler’s TikTok account. This song choice draws parallels to the 1999 mass shooting in Colorado that killed 13 people and injured 20 others.
Friends of Butler shared that he had been subjected to repeated bullying since elementary school. Yesenia Roeder Hall, one of his friends, stated, “He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment.”
The tragic shooting has raised concerns about the warning signs exhibited by the shooter prior to the attack, prompting conversations about the importance of identifying and addressing at-risk behavior in schools.
In summary, the Iowa school shooting at Perry High School resulted in the death of a sixth grade student and injuries to five others. The shooter, 17-year-old Dylan Butler, had exhibited troubling behavior on social media, including posts that raised concerns about his mental state. This tragic event has sparked discussions about the need for improved measures to identify and support at-risk individuals in schools.