Perry, Iowa
- January 5, 2023
In a
devastating incident that has shaken the community of Perry, Iowa, multiple individuals
were shot at Perry High School on Thursday, the students' first day back in
classes after their annual winter break. The shooting unfolded before the
school day was set to start, resulting in two gunshot victims being rushed to
Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines, approximately 40 miles southeast
of Perry.
Dallas
County Sheriff Adam Infant confirmed that the suspect in the shooting has died,
reportedly from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The incident occurred amidst
the backdrop of the Iowa caucuses, not far from where Republican presidential
candidates were actively campaigning.
The shooting
was reported at 7:37 a.m. on Thursday morning, and law enforcement officers
arrived promptly seven minutes later. According to Sheriff Infant, there were
few students and faculty present in the school at the time of the incident.
Zander
Shelley, a 15-year-old student, described the chaotic scene as he heard
gunshots while waiting in a hallway. He managed to find refuge in a classroom
after being grazed twice and promptly alerted his father.
Rachael
Kares, an 18-year-old senior, recalled the terrifying moments during jazz band
practice, hearing four gunshots spaced apart. Kares and her bandmates followed
their teacher's instruction to run, seeking safety.
Emergency
vehicles surrounded the school building, which houses both the town's middle
school and high school. FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office are
assisting in the investigation led by the Iowa Division of Criminal
Investigation.
The mayor of
Perry, Dirk Cavanaugh, emphasized the absence of confirmed numbers regarding
those involved in the incident, cautioning against speculative information.
Distraught
parents anxiously awaited information about the safety of their children. Erica
Jolliff, whose daughter is a ninth-grader, expressed concern for her son Amir,
a sixth-grader, still unaccounted for an hour after the incident.
Jasmine
Augustine, who was near the high school at the time, recounted the swift
response of law enforcement and the urgency to leave the area after learning of
an active shooter.
The Perry
Community School District, with 1,785 students, is now dealing with the
aftermath of this tragic event. The town of Perry, known for its diversity, is
home to a significant Hispanic population, making up 31% of residents,
according to census figures.
As the
investigation unfolds, the community, state, and nation are left grappling with
the aftermath of this senseless act of violence on what should have been a day
of hope and new beginnings for students returning from winter break. Messages
left with school officials were not immediately returned, leaving the community
seeking answers and solace in the wake of this tragic event. See More
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