Dylan Butler: Iowa school shooter, 17, who turned gun on himself after killing sixth grader identified

PERRY, IOWA: A rural Iowa high school is grappling with the aftermath of a horrifying shooting that unfolded on the first day back from winter break on Thursday, January 4.

Dylan Butler, 17, has been identified as the gunman behind the shooting that killed a sixth-grader and injured five others. He reportedly turned the gun on himself following the incident, reported Newsweek.

Who was Dylan Butler?

According to authorities, Butler, a 17-year-old student acted alone based on evidence. The tragic incident occurred at 7.47 am at Perry High School. One of the injured victims was an administrator, reportedly the school principal.

Authorities have not yet disclosed the names of the victims. In a late afternoon press conference following the incident, authorities stated that the condition of one of the injured victims was listed as critical but was expected to survive.

Dylan Butler made cryptic social media posts before Iowa school shooting

Investigators also mentioned adding that Butler made cryptic social media posts before the rampage.

The shooting took place before the opening bell when "very few students and faculty" were in the school building "which contributed to a good outcome in that sense," according to Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante's statement during a press conference.

The shooter carried a small caliber handgun and a pump action shotgun. After Butler turned the gun on himself, the "makeshift explosive device" was deactivated by first responders during a "swift and immediate" police response from 150 officers of multiple agencies,

Witnesses recall horrifying rampage at Iowa school

Speaking about the four gunshots she heard, 18-year-old Rachael Kares said she was practicing with the jazz band at the school when the incident took place.

"We all just jumped. My band teacher looked at us and yelled, ‘Run!’ So we ran," said Kares. Under the condition of anonymity, a law enforcement official stated that the gunman was dead following the rampage.

First responders notified on police radio that the shooter seemed to have killed themselves, as per initial reports. Parent Kevin Shelley shared a harrowing account of his 15-year-old son Zander Shelley's experience.

Before he took shelter in a classroom, Shelley was grazed by a bullet in the back and arm in the school hallway. "My son was inside, said he heard gunshots and immediately started running. They got into a classroom with a teacher that kept them hidden and safe," said Shelley, according to New York Post.