PERRY, Iowa – Something very bad has happened at Perry High School in Iowa. There was an active shooter there and now police are coming to deal with it. On Thursday morning, something very sad happened. It broke the calmness of the first day at school after winter holidays.
Attack on Perry High School:
Perry, a town of about 7,900 people located around 40 miles northwest from Des Moines, is now dealing with the impact of this awful thing. The school’s time table said Thursday was the start of spring term, but a very sad event happened instead.
In a rapid and coordinated response, various law enforcement agencies, such as the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office, and the Perry Police Department came in action. They quickly arrived at Perry High School after receiving reports around 7:40 am showing a possible active shooter situation.
Sgt. Alex Dinkla of the Iowa State Patrol revealed that a news conference is scheduled to provide further details at 10 Midnight, close to the football field at Perry High School. The event will happen with help from the groups I just talked about. It aims to explain what happened in this terrible thing.
As things happened, Jack Johnson became a WHO 13 photographer near 1200 18th Street. He saw lots of police around school and streets close to it were blocked off. Both land and air ambulances could be seen coming in and going out of the school area. This showed how bad things were getting.
Tearful reunion between students and parents near the high school showed how sad this event has made everyone. The Perry Community School District helps around 1,785 students and this sad event has a real effect in the small town.
The gravity of the situation became apparent when Scripps News tracked two medical helicopters leaving the school, with one already landing at Mercy One Des Moines Medical Center. While authorities have not officially confirmed casualties, the presence of medical helicopters suggests a potentially grim outcome.
The Iowa State Police’s Sgt. Dinkla emphasized the urgency of the situation, stating that updates would be provided during the morning news conference. The atmosphere surrounding the high school was tense, with an extensive law enforcement presence and a media staging area set up nearby.
FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office joined the investigation, supporting the efforts led by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation. The lack of confirmed numbers regarding those involved added to the anguish of waiting families. Erica Jolliff, a distressed parent, anxiously sought information about her children, one of whom was reportedly rushed from the school grounds.
As the news of the shooting rippled through the community, panic and sorrow gripped the residents of Perry. The incident occurred against the backdrop of the Iowa caucuses, drawing attention not only to the immediate tragedy but also emphasizing the broader impact on the region.
Dirk Cavanaugh, the Mayor of Perry, addressed the speculative nature of the circulating numbers, highlighting the need for official confirmation. The entire community, with its approximately 8,000 residents, is left grappling with uncertainty and fear, awaiting updates on the well-being of their loved ones.
Phone calls and emails to the Perry School Board’s president, vice president, and Superintendent Clark Wicks remained unanswered, reflecting the overwhelming nature of the situation. The Dallas County’s Emergency Management Agency announced a forthcoming press conference, promising additional information that could provide some clarity in this time of distress.
In cruel timing, the sad thing at Perry High School happened close to where Republican leaders were working hard to get votes. It made things look dark for their campaign. As Iowa feels sad and waits for news on the hurt, this terrible thing will surely leave long-lasting marks on the close group of people. The country feels sad as more information comes out. They hope for comfort and healing for everyone hurt by this mindless act of violence.
