PERRY, Iowa — It's been under 48 hours since a student lost his life when a gunman opened fire at Perry High School and Middle School.
As the community looks forward after the tragedy, Local 5 is staying up to date with local law enforcement, including the Dallas County Sheriff's Office, the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and Perry police.
Here are the most important details you need to know about the Perry school shooting as we head into the weekend.
What happened at Perry High School and Middle School?
On Jan. 4, 2024, police and state officials responded to an active shooter situation at Perry High School and Middle School at around 7:40 a.m. The high school and middle school are combined on one campus.
It was the first day back to school after winter break for Perry students. While classes had not started yet, students and faculty were in the building to eat breakfast and participate in extracurricular activities.
Students told Local 5 and ABC they hid in the school or attempted to flee the building as they heard gunshots.
An employee at Perry High hit the school's panic button to alert officials of the situation. Law enforcement arrived on scene in just seven minutes after receiving the alert.
From there, officials conducted a systematic approach to clearing the building, during which they located and disarmed an "improvised explosive device", according to Iowa DCI.
At least one student was killed and another seven people were injured in the shooting.
The suspected shooter, 17-year-old Dylan Butler, was a student at Perry High School. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Iowa DCI reports.
Butler reportedly had a pump-action shotgun as well as a small caliber handgun.
Who are the victims of the Perry school shooting?
11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a sixth-grader at Perry Middle School, lost his life during the deadly shooting. The Iowa State Medical Examiner said Jolliff died after being shot three times.
Seven other people were injured in the shooting. Of those, four of the injured individuals are students and three are school employees. All of the victims were transported to local hospitals following the shooting.
One of the victims, Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition.
Only Marburger and two students remain hospitalized as of Friday afternoon, while the others have been treated and released, according to Iowa DCI.
Dr. Carlos Pelaez, director of the Trauma Center at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and Blank Children's Hospital, said three victims were sent to the trauma center for treatment on Thursday, and two remain as of Friday afternoon.
One of the victims, an adult man, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and is currently in critical condition in the ICU. It is unconfirmed if this victim is Marburger.
A minor male also remains in pediatric ICU after being shot multiple times. He underwent surgery and is currently in critical, but stable, condition.
17-year-old Dylan Butler, who police identified as the shooter, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, Iowa DCI said Friday.
Who is the suspect, Dylan Butler?
As of Friday night, not much is known about the suspect, 17-year-old Dylan Butler.
As previously noted, Butler allegedly had a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun. It is currently unknown how or where he got the weapons.
Officials believe Butler acted alone in the shooting. Law enforcement has yet to provide information about a possible motive.
The Associated Press reports Butler was a "quiet person who had been bullied for years". Local 5 has not been able to independently confirm this information.
Iowa DCI is in the process of conducting victim interviews and collecting eyewitness accounts. In addition, officials said they are looking into "large volumes of digital and social media evidence".
When will Perry students return to school?
Following the shooting, the district announced that Perry High School students will not return to school next week. Students at Perry Elementary School and Perry Middle School will return on Friday, Jan. 12 at the earliest. Any changes will be shared with parents and guardians, as well as on the schools' websites.
While the schools are closed, the district is offering a grab-and-go lunch service at Perry Elementary School each day from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Where is Perry High School in Iowa?
Perry High School is located in the small town of Perry just 25 miles northwest of Des Moines in central Iowa.
Perry is home to approximately 8,000 people as of July 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Perry High School and Perry Middle School are combined on one campus, both located at 1200 18th St. in Perry. Approximately 938 students attended the school in the 2022-23 school year, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.