'Simply devastated': Dylan Butler's parents seek answers after 'senseless' Iowa high school shooting
Warning: This article contains a recollection of crime and can be triggering to some, readers’ discretion advised.
PERRY, IOWA: Distraught parents of the 17-year-old Iowa school shooter, Dylan Butler, are desperately seeking answers after the 'senseless' crime that resulted in the death of one person and injuries to seven others.
The incident occurred on the first day back after the winter break when Butler initiated a shooting at a small-town high school in Iowa. Tragically, a sixth-grader lost their life, and other students sustained injuries as they sought refuge in offices, classrooms, and fled in panic.
The suspected shooter, Butler, a student at the Perry school, is believed to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to an official from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
What did Jack and Erin Butler say?
In a statement, Dylan Butler's parents expressed they had no indication of the dreadful violence he was about to unleash.
The statement further conveyed their cooperation with investigators as they sought answers regarding why their son committed this senseless crime.
They said, "As the minutes and hours have passed since the horrors our son Dylan inflicted on the victims, the Perry School and the community, we have been trying to make sense out of the senseless".
They added, "We are simply devastated and our grief for the deceased, his family, the wounded and their families is immeasurable".
Additionally, the Butlers expressed their gratitude for the "grace we have been shown in public and private."
Investigators are actively reviewing extensive electronic and physical evidence while conducting interviews with numerous witnesses to gain a deeper understanding of the events and motivations behind the incident.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, spearheading the case, did not provide any updates on the shooting on Monday, as per Yahoo.
Identified victims in Dylan Butler's shooting at Perry High School
Authorities state that Butler, a 17-year-old student, acted alone based on evidence from the shooting scene. The tragic incident occurred at 7:47 am at Perry High School, with one of the injured victims reportedly being the school principal.
Among the victims was 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a student at the school, who succumbed to three gunshot wounds inflicted by Butler. The Iowa State Medical Examiner ruled his death a homicide.
Butler, armed with an illegal pump-action shotgun, a handgun, and a rudimentary explosive device, carried out the deadly attack.
The mass shooting led to the evacuation of 1,785 students. Fellow classmates and those familiar with Butler's circumstances suggest that the shooter had reached a breaking point, allegedly snapping after enduring relentless bullying.
The situation became unbearable for Butler when his younger sister became a target as well, with the lack of intervention from school officials described as the "last straw" that pushed him over the edge.
Yesenia Roeder, 17, and Khamya Hall spoke out about Butler's history of being bullied since elementary school.
Hall claimed, "He was hurting. He got tired. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment, Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no."
