Multiple people were shot at Perry High School on Thursday morning, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said at a news conference. Police have identified a shooter, but have not released any more details on who it was.
Heavy police and medical presence was seen at the high school, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Des Moines in Dallas County. Streets for several blocks were barricaded, dozens of law enforcement from across central Iowa were on scene and a medical helicopter was seen landing at the school at about 8:30 a.m.
Parents started arriving at about 8:50 a.m. to find their students. City spokesperson Chris Cohea said the elementary school nearby was locked down and all students there were being kept in their rooms.
Perry has a population of about 8,000 residents. The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. The middle school is in the same building. Thursday was the first day back in school for students following the holiday break.
Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior, was wrapping up jazz band practice at 7:37 a.m. — she had just looked at her watch — when she and her bandmates heard what she described as four gunshots, spaced apart.
“We all just jumped,” Kares said. “My band teacher looked at us and yelled, ‘Run!’ So we ran.”
Kares and many others from the school ran out past the football field, as she heard people yelling, “Get out! Get out!” She said she heard additional shots as she ran, but didn’t know how many. She was more concerned about getting home to her 3-year-old son.
“At that moment I didn’t care about anything except getting out because I had to get home with my son,” she said.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said police responded to an active shooter early this morning before school started. He said there are multiple injuries but “it’s still unclear exactly how many are injured and what the extent of those are. But we’re working on that right now.”
He said they have confirmed who the shooter was but will not release any other information at this time.
The shooting started at about 7:37 a.m., about 20 minutes before school starts. Infante said the situation could have been much worse if school had been in session at the time of the shooting.
UnityPoint Health officials confirmed two gunshot victims from Perry High School were transported via ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines Thursday morning following the incident.
Two teachers said Dan Marburger, the principal of the high school, was shot.
“I work in the school … and two of my three children were supposed to be in the high school at that time,” said Holly Killmer, a teacher for Perry Middle School. “How do you wrap your mind around sending them back into that environment? How do they do that? It’s just so traumatic.”
Killmer said students took shelter at Perry Lutheran Homes, an assisted living community near the school.
“We were told to go home, but we were also told we could get our cars out which is not true — we can’t get our cars out,” Killmer said. “Watching parents come up …. as we’re (evacuating) over here — within minutes, parents pulling in here and screaming and crying and hugging their kids. It was more than I can handle.”
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Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, opened her remarks at a legislative forum Thursday morning by addressing the shooting.
“I want to start by just extending condolences to those in Perry, Iowa,” Jochum said. “I know that we are still waiting for more details on what happened there, but I think I can speak for all the Democrats and actually everybody in the state of Iowa that our hearts go out to the families, whatever has occurred there. And we will wait for more detail on that as well.”
House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said she didn’t want to discuss suggestions for gun policy changes in Iowa without knowing more about what happened in Perry.
“It’s fair to say that at this point we don’t know what’s happening in Perry and so we don’t know what the impact of legislation in this state or gun policy in this state is on what happened in Perry,” she said. “So right now we’re focused on monitoring what’s happening there and I’d rather keep the students and the faculty and the families as the focus right now on the Perry incident until we know what happened.”
The Perry Community School District has canceled classes Friday, according to its districtwide communication system. Counseling services will be available at the Perry Public Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.
The New Day Assembly of God, 2313 First Ave., has invited the community to come together at the sanctuary at 6 p.m. Thursday. A prayer vigil will be held at Wiese Park, 1800 Pattee St., at 6 p.m. Another will be held at 7 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2810 First Ave.
Kevin Shelley said his son, Zander, 15, was grazed by two bullets while in a school hallway. He left the school at about 8:30 a.m. and went to his nearby home, Kevin Shelley said. He described his son’s injuries as minor.
Kevin Shelley said his son said he saw the principal get shot.
“My son was inside, said he heard gunshots and immediately started running,” Kevin Shelley said. “They got into a classroom with a teacher that kept them hidden and safe.”
Zander broke his glasses as he was running away, his father said.
All staff have been released to go home, according to a message sent on the districtwide communications system. “Do not return to the building. More information will be available later,” the text said.
More: What we know about Perry High School, the scene of an Iowa school shooting
Woodward-Granger, a school district about 11 miles east of Perry, is releasing its students early due to the shooting after it was in a shelter-in-place. The “reunification process” with students and parents began at 9 a.m.
The district also has canceled evening activities.
The first call from dispatch was at about 7:37 a.m., according to a recording from the police scanner. Dispatchers said they had access to school cameras and reported seeing something in the west hallway.
A dispatcher advised first responders of “reports of multiple subjects injured at this time.”
An unknown first responder advised dispatchers that he encountered a “male subject down in the hallway — appears to be self-inflicted” and that he was “showing other victims.” He later advised that he was outside of Room 308 and “subject that’s down is deceased.”
Call for two medical helicopters went out at 7:46 a.m.
High school students were evacuated to Perry Lutheran Homes and the Iowa National Guard Armory. Teacher Holly Killmer said the nursing home was so kind and had tissues and snacks out for the students.
Police on scene are telling parents to pick up their students at the elementary school, about a mile west of the high school.
Erica Jolliff said that her daughter, a ninth grader, reported getting rushed from the school grounds at 7:45 am. Distraught, Jolliff was still looking for her son Amir, a sixth grader, one hour later.
“I just want to know that he’s safe and OK,” Jolliff said. “They won’t tell me nothing.”
When reached by phone, Perry School Board member Travis Landgrebe, who has a son in sixth grade, said he could not “confirm nor deny” any reports.
Landgrebe did confirm his son was home and unharmed.
I am “praying for all involved,” Landgrebe told the Des Moines Register in a phone interview.
The Associated Press contributed to this report. This is a developing story and will be updated.
Elaine Hadley is a dedicated journalist covering the ever-evolving landscape of U.S. news. With a keen interest in politics and a commitment to uncovering the truth, she provides insightful commentary and in-depth analysis on domestic issues. When not reporting, Elaine enjoys exploring the diverse cultures and landscapes of the United States.
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