Dylan Butler: Iowa school shooter discussed 'gearing up' on Discord moments before launching attack
PERRY, IOWA: In the aftermath of the devastating Iowa school shooting at Perry High School on Thursday, January 4, perpetrated by 17-year-old Dylan Butler, distressing details have emerged about the suspect's online presence.
Investigations reveal that Butler was reportedly active on the internet chat platform Discord, where he discussed school shootings and ominously mentioned "gearing up" just moments before the assault.
Who are the victims of the Iowa school shooting?
The school shooting resulted in the death of sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff, 11, and left four other students and three staff members injured, including principal Dan Marburger. Butler, armed with a pump-action shotgun and a handgun, both illegal for a 17-year-old to possess in Iowa, also had an undetonated explosive device in his possession.
The shooter took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Moreover, reports indicate that Butler's use of social media and tech platforms, including Discord, is under scrutiny as investigators delve into the circumstances leading up to the attack.
Dylan Butler made cryptic social media posts before Iowa school shooting
Hours before the shooting, Butler posted a TikTok video from an account with the username 'tooktoomuch' in what appeared to be the school bathroom, accompanied by a caption that read, 'Now we wait'.
Concurrently, a Discord account using the name "took2much" was observed discussing the imminent violence. The 'took2much' account was reportedly part of a chatroom named "School Massacres Discussion," shedding light on Butler's participation in discussions related to school shootings.
Screenshots obtained by NBC reveal messages from this account expressing readiness and nervousness "for what's to come." Just ten minutes later, the user expressed heightened anxiety, stating, "I’m f------ nervous, I’m the bathroom gearing up." Subsequently, the account used a racial slur, mentioning two minutes later, "There’s a n----- in the bathroom, I need him to leave so I can assemble my guns.”
Discord user flagged the chatroom to the FBI yet received no response
A Discord user, who flagged the chatroom to the FBI in November, claims to have received no response despite providing screenshots of the server. The user did not mention the 'took2much' username in their report, and the chatroom was closed before the shooting occurred.
Discord, a platform that has previously been linked to a mass shooter in Buffalo, New York, in 2022, emphasized its zero-tolerance policy against content glorifying violence. “Our deepest sympathies are with the victims, their families, and the community in Perry, Iowa following yesterday’s horrific shooting," the spokesperson said.
"We took immediate action against the suspect and his content, and are currently cooperating with law enforcement to assist them in their continuing investigation."
In December, authorities and Discord announced that they had successfully intervened to prevent a 13-year-old from carrying out an attack on a synagogue, after reporting the individual's online activities to law enforcement.
What was the motive behind the school shooting?
Fellow classmates revealed that Butler, a senior at Perry High School, had endured bullying since elementary school, and his anguish intensified when his younger sister became a target as well, marking a tragic turning point that ultimately became 'the last straw' for the teenager.
Khamya Hall disclosed that the bullying escalated recently, with school officials allegedly failing to intervene. "He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment," said Hall. "Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no."
