US: Student Kills One, Injures Five Others At School

A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday in the midwestern US state of Iowa, when a 17-year-old armed with a handgun and shotgun took the life of a fellow sixth-grade student and injured five others at Perry High School.

The incident occurred around 7:30 am and triggered a major police response as emergency vehicles and armed units rushed to Perry High School, according to a report in AP. The classes had not yet started for the day when the sixth-grade student killed his classmate.

Mitch Mortvedt, the assistant director of the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, said that the victim who lost their life was in the sixth grade, aged 11 or 12 years, likely present at the high school for a breakfast program. Among the injured were four students and a school administrator.

In a disturbing development, authorities discovered an improvised explosive device within the school premises, which they successfully disabled, adding another layer of complexity to the already tragic event.

"Officers immediately attempted to locate the source of the threat and quickly found what appeared to be the shooter with a self-inflicted gunshot wound," the news agency quoted Mortvedt as telling reporters.

As per a report in Reuters, the suspect was identified as Dylan Butler. He was found dead with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound by responding officers.

Ava Augustus, a high school student, recounted her harrowing experience to a television channel, sharing that she sought refuge in a classroom as the shooting unfolded. After receiving confirmation from authorities that the incident had concluded, she cautiously emerged, describing the aftermath she witnessed with "glass scattered everywhere and blood staining the floor."

"I get to my car and they're taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg," she told the local NBC affiliate.

Mortvedt said that the injuries suffered by the five wounded victims were not life-threatening.

As per CNN, Thursday had been slated as the inaugural day of classes for the new semester, aligning with the school district's calendar. In response to the tragic incident, the school made the decision to cancel classes on Friday and announced the availability of counselling services for students in need.