Perry High School, Iowa: Student kills one and injures five others at school

Summary

Police say a student has shot six people, fatally injuring one, at a high school in the US state of Iowa
The attacker, named as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, police say
The suspect was carrying a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun in the attack at Perry High School
A search of the school found a "pretty rudimentary" improvised explosive device, which federal agents helped render safe
The shooting at Perry High School was reported at 07:37 local time - on the first day back at school since the winter break

Live Reporting

Edited by Brandon Livesay

WATCH: Scenes outside Iowa schoolpublished at 17:27 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
We've put together some footage of police and other emergency services at the scene of the school shooting in Perry, as well as key section of Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante's brief statement earlier:
Media caption,
Scenes from outside the Iowa school shooting
Parent concerned for welfare of sonpublished at 17:06 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
A local media outlet in Iowa is reporting that a number of parents have said students were being turned away after arriving at Perry High School and Middle School this morning.
KCCI, an affiliate of the BBC's US partner CBS News, reports that one parent said her ninth-grade daughter was rushed out of the building at 07:45 local time (13:45 GMT).
Erica Jolliff said she was still looking for her sixth-grade son Amir an hour afterwards.
"I just want to know that he's safe and OK," she told reporters.
Teacher heard six or seven gunshotspublished at 16:53 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Lori Meinecke, a Perry High School teacher, told a local radio station that she heard about six to seven gunshots early this morning.
Injured students are being transported to the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center for treatment, a spokesperson from the hospital in capital of Iowa said.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said at the press conference that most of the students have been reunited with their families already.
Here's what we know so farpublished at 16:34 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Image source, Reuters
While we wait for more information from police, here's a quick summary of the little we do know at this stage:
- Police in Iowa were called to Perry High School and Middle School at about 07:40 (13:40 GMT) this morning to reports of an active shooter
- Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said officers were on the scene of the shooting within seven minutes
- Police found multiple gunshot victims at the school, but are not yet able to say how many victims there are
- We don't know if anyone has been killed, or the extent of any injuries as yet
- The shooter has been identified, Infante did tell reporters in his brief update - but he did not share a name or any other details
- He also said the fact the school had not yet started meant there were fewer victims than there could have been
- There is no further danger to the public, he said
- The FBI has said agents are on the scene to assist local law enforcement
- A new press conference will be held later, Infante assured reporters after declining to answer questions
Press conference endspublished at 16:14 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
The update from police was extremely brief, with Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante declining to answer any further questions from members of the media.
We still do not know how many victims there are, or what their injuries may be.
There will be another police update later today with more information.
School hadn't started at time of shooting, police saypublished at 16:10 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Sheriff Adam Infante says school hadn't started yet when the shots were fired, so very few students and teachers were in the building at the time of the shooting.
That led to a "good outcome" in terms of the number of people who were harmed, he says.
The shooter has been identified, he adds, declining to share the name.
No further danger to public, Dallas County Sheriff sayspublished at 16:09 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Image source, Reuters
The Dallas County sheriff says that this morning at 07:37 local time (13:37 GMT) police got notice of an active shooter at the school.
A police officer arrived within seven minutes and located "multiple gunshot victims", Sheriff Adam Infante says.
He stresses there is no further danger to the public and promises to give another update later today.
Press conference about to startpublished at 16:01 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office and the Perry Police Department will make a statement at 10:00 local time (16:00 GMT).
The update will share "preliminary information" on the shooting at Perry High School and Middle School that occurred just this morning, police say.
You'll be able to stream the press conference live on this page by clicking the Play button above.
FBI says agents on scene to help Iowa policepublished at 15:55 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
We've just heard from the FBI, who say agents from its Omaha Des Moines office are at the scene in Perry.
"We are assisting the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, who is the lead investigative agency. I can refer you to DCI for any other comment," the federal law enforcement agency says.
Where is Perry High School?published at 15:49 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Image source, Reuters
Perry High School is about 40 miles (64km) northwest of Iowa's capital, Des Moines.
The school is part of the Perry Community School District, which has about 1,785 students, according to its website.
The city’s population is just over 8,000 people, according to a 2022 census estimate.
Shooting reported at US high schoolpublished at 15:47 Greenwich Mean Time 4 January
Brandon Livesay
US reporter
Image source, Reuters
Multiple law enforcement agencies are responding to a shooting at a high school in Perry in the US state of Iowa, the same day students returned back from their winter break.
The Perry Police Department confirmed to the BBC there "is, was" an active shooter at Perry High School, but said there are no further details at this time.
There’s very few confirmed details about the shooting, but we are expecting police to give an update at 10:00 local time (11:00 ET, 16:00 GMT). You'll be able to watch the update by pressing the Play button at the top of this page.
Stay with us as we bring you the latest updates.