(Scypre.com) – A shooting incident occurred at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning, resulting in multiple injuries, according to authorities.
At approximately 7:37 a.m., police responded to reports of an active scene at the school. Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante stated that officers arrived within seven minutes of the active shooter alarm.
The exact number of victims and their conditions remain unconfirmed, with authorities actively working to ascertain this information.
Sheriff Infante assured the public that there is no ongoing threat, stating, “The community is safe.” He added, “We’re just now working backwards, trying to figure out everything that happened and make notifications. There will be another update later on today.”
According to The Associated Press, two gunshot victims were transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center. A law enforcement source informed the AP that the suspected shooter died from what investigators believe to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The incident occurred before the start of the school day, with Sheriff Infante noting, “Luckily, there was very few students and faculty in the building, which I think contributed to a good outcome in that sense.”
Witnesses, including 15-year-old Zander Shelley and 18-year-old senior Rachael Kares, described the chaotic moments during the incident. Zander, grazed twice by gunfire, hid in a classroom and texted his father. Rachael, who was at jazz band practice, recalled the sound of gunshots and the urgent response of students and faculty to flee.
Law enforcement agencies, including the sheriff’s office, Perry Police Department, FBI, and ATF, responded to the scene. While a suspect has been identified, their name has not been released. The school district, Perry Community School District, has approximately 1,785 enrolled students.
Thursday marked the first day back to school after winter break. Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds expressed condolences, stating, “Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers & families of the Perry Community.” Reynolds mentioned being in contact with law enforcement agencies and monitoring the situation, committing to joining the press conference later in the day. Another press conference is scheduled for Thursday afternoon to provide additional details as they become available.