Iowa school shooter, 17, ID’d after killing sixth grader, shooting 5 others before turning gun on himself

A 17-year-old student armed with two firearms and a makeshift explosive device opened fire inside his rural Iowa high school on the first day back from winter break Thursday —  killing a sixth grader and injuring five others, before turning the gun on themself, officials said.

Gunman Dylan Butler posted an ominous message on TikTok saying “now we wait” shortly before his bloody 7:47 a.m. rampage at Perry High School, according to state police and published reports.

The attack horrified the students who were on the campus early before classes started — including Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior, who said she was practicing with the school’s jazz group when she heard four gunshots ring out.

“We all just jumped,” Kares said. “My band teacher looked at us and yelled, ‘Run!’ So we ran.”

Officials did not release the names of the victims, though one was identified as Principal Dan Marburger. One of the injured parties was in critical condition but was expected to survive, and the other four were in stable condition, according to Mitch Mortvedt, assistant director of Iowa Department of Public Safety.

All evidence suggested Butler acted alone, Mortvedt said, adding that he made cryptic social media posts before the rampage at the small town school combined middle school and high school campus, 40 miles northwest of Des Moines.