Tragic Incident at Perry High School: Sixth-grade student loses life, five others injured in a distressing shooting event. Stay updated on this heartbreaking news.

A tragic incident unfolded at Perry High School when a 17-year-old student named Dylan Butler, armed with a shotgun, handgun, and a makeshift bomb, killed a sixth-grade student and injured five others before the school day began, state law enforcement officials reported Thursday morning.

Dylan Butler took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot before local police arrived at the scene, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of the Division of Criminal Investigation. The incident took place around 7:37 a.m. during breakfast time, with officers responding to an active shooter report.

Upon arrival, officers found students and staff fleeing or hiding, along with multiple individuals with gunshot wounds. Butler was quickly located with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The authorities discovered a pump-action shotgun, a small-caliber handgun, and a “rudimentary” bomb, which was safely disabled.

Mitch Mortvedt emphasized that all evidence suggested Butler acted alone, and investigators are scrutinizing social media posts made by him around the time of the incident.

Governor Kim Reynolds expressed her condolences and pledged to work tirelessly for answers to prevent such incidents. The victims, including five students and one school administrator, were rushed to medical centers. Unfortunately, a sixth-grade student from Perry Middle School lost their life, while the others are expected to survive.

Reynolds praised the swift response of local, state, and federal agencies, acknowledging the heroic actions that potentially saved lives. The incident has sparked discussions on gun regulations, with Democratic leaders expressing condolences and emphasizing the need for prevention. Republican leaders, while offering condolences, did not comment directly on gun policy.

Numerous elected officials and candidates, including U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley, U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, and presidential candidates Vivek Ramaswamy, Ron DeSantis, and Nikki Haley, responded with grief and calls for prayers and support for the affected community. The tragic event has reignited the debate on school safety and gun control measures.