The sixth-grader killed during the mass shooting at Perry Middle School in Iowa on Jan. 4 has now been identified as 11-year-old boy Ahmir Jolliff, the Iowa Department of Public Safety (DPS) confirmed in a news release.
Jolliff’s cause of death was determined to be three gunshot wounds from the shooter, DPS said. The attacker, identified as 17-year-old high school student Dylan Butler, died by suicide from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
The principal of the high school, two other employees and four students were also injured in the shooting, which began in the canteen before classes began that Wednesday around 7:30 a.m.
Authorities previously reported five people injured other than dead, but that number has since been increased to seven people who “suffered wounds or injuries of varying degrees” during the shooting, according to the DPS Division of Criminal Investigation.
“Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger has been identified as suffering from multiple gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition,” DPS said in a statement. “The investigation to date confirms that Principal Marburger acted selflessly and put himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students. At this time, Principal Marburger and two students remain in the hospital. The rest were taken care of and released.”
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Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds, during a Jan. 4 news conference, addressed the community in Perry, which is about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines.
“Our hearts are heavy today and our prayers are with the Perry community,” Reynolds said. “This strikes at the heart of everything we hold dear. This senseless tragedy has shaken our entire state to its core, and I want this community to know that every Iowan stands with you.”
“It’s impossible to understand why something like this is happening, but again I want you to know that we will work tirelessly to get answers to prevent this from happening again,” Reynolds added.
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Police are responding to a shooting at Perry High School.
AP Photo/Andrew Harnik
Authorities continue to investigate as students, faculty and the community grieve.
“Investigators have seized large amounts of digital and social media evidence that will take time to review,” DPS added in a statement. “Investigations, as well as eyewitness accounts and interviews with victims, are continuing.”
“Once the investigation is complete, the DCIs [Division of Criminal Investigation] the investigative report will be submitted to the Dallas County State’s Attorney’s office to determine what additional action, if any, should be taken,” the statement concluded.
PEOPLE has reached out to DPS for more details on the shooting.
Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education