PERRY, IOWA – A tragic school shooting at Perry High School on January 4, 2024, left one student dead and five others injured, including the school’s principal. The shooter, identified as 17-year-old student Dylan Butler, was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun. Shortly after the incident, Butler died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound before first responders arrived at the scene.
According to Assistant Director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Mitch Mortvedt, a rudimentary improvised explosive device was also found at the scene. The victims of the shooting were not identified, but one was reported to be in critical but stable condition while the others were reportedly stable.
Social media played a role in shedding light on the shooter’s state of mind prior to the attack. Reports surfaced of Butler’s activity on TikTok moments before the shooting. The suspect reportedly posted a photo inside the school with the caption “now we wait” while playing a song titled “Stray Bullet” by KMFDM. Other photos of Butler posing with firearms were also found on his now-scrubbed social media accounts.
In the wake of the tragedy, it was revealed that Butler had posted on social media about struggling with gender identity issues. Posts unconfirmed by official sources suggested that he had expressed concerns over his appearance and had felt harassed and bullied at school.
The shooting at Perry High School was the second school shooting in 2024, following an incident at a school in Midlothian, Virginia. The Perry community was left grappling with the devastating impact of the violence, as reports emerged of Butler being relentlessly bullied throughout his time at the school.
The tragic events at Perry High School serve as a sobering reminder of the ongoing challenges and consequences of school violence. The community mourns the loss of life and grapples with the aftermath of the senseless act of violence.