'Get out!' 'Run!' people yelled as shots fired at Perry High School in morning shooting

The suspect in a shooting at Perry High School has died of what investigators believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press. The official was not authorized to publicly discuss details of the investigation and spoke to The AP on condition of anonymity.

Multiple people were shot at the high school on Thursday morning, about 20 minutes before school was scheduled to start, Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said at a news conference.

Heavy police and medical presence was seen at the high school, about 40 miles northwest of downtown Des Moines in Dallas County. Streets for several blocks were barricaded, dozens of law enforcement from across central Iowa were on scene and a medical helicopter was seen landing at the school at about 8:30 a.m.

FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office are assisting with the investigation led by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.

More: Shooting at Perry High School: What we know

Parents started arriving at about 8:50 a.m. to find their students. City spokesperson Chris Cohea said the elementary school nearby was locked down and all students there were being kept in their rooms.

Perry has a population of about 8,000 residents. The high school is part of the 1,785-student Perry Community School District. The middle school is in the same building. Thursday was the first day back in school for students following the holiday break.

Polk County hospital: Victims, families reunited

Polk County Healthcare Systems said in a statement at 12:30 p.m. that the Dallas County Sheriff's Office has confirmed all families of the victims transported to Iowa Methodist Medical Center and MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center have been reunited as of Tuesday afternoon.

Polk County health officials declined to share further details on the status of those patients.

Students barricaded themselves in counselor's office

High school senior Ava Augustus said she was in a counselor's office, waiting for hers to arrive, when she heard three shots. She and other people barricaded the door, preparing to throw things if necessary, with a window being too small for an escape.

“And then we hear ‘He’s down. You can go out,’” Augustus said through tears. ”And I run and you can just see glass everywhere, blood on the floor. I get to my car and they’re taking a girl out of the auditorium who had been shot in her leg.”

Student said she heard gunshots and ran

Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old senior, was wrapping up jazz band practice at 7:37 a.m. — she had just looked at her watch — when she and her bandmates heard what she described as four gunshots, spaced apart.

“We all just jumped,” Kares said. “My band teacher looked at us and yelled, ‘Run!’ So we ran.”

Kares and many others from the school ran out past the football field, as she heard people yelling, “Get out! Get out!” She said she heard additional shots as she ran, but didn’t know how many. She was more concerned about getting home to her 3-year-old son.

“At that moment I didn’t care about anything except getting out because I had to get home with my son,” she said.

Sheriff: Multiple people injured

Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said police responded to an active shooter early this morning before school started. He said there are multiple injuries but "it's still unclear exactly how many are injured and what the extent of those are. But we’re working on that right now.”

He said they have confirmed who the shooter was but will not release any other information at this time.

The shooting started at about 7:37 a.m., about 20 minutes before school starts. Infante said the situation could have been much worse if school had been in session at the time of the shooting.

UnityPoint Health officials confirmed two gunshot victims from Perry High School were transported via ambulance to Iowa Methodist Medical Center in Des Moines Thursday morning following the incident.

MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines confirmed "some" patients were transported to the hospital from Perry High School early Thursday morning, and that all families of victims have been unified. Hospital officials declined to provide further details on the number of victims or their status.

Teacher reports seeing principal shot

Two teachers said Dan Marburger, the principal of the high school, was shot.

"I work in the school ... and two of my three children were supposed to be in the high school at that time," said Holly Killmer, a teacher for Perry Middle School. "How do you wrap your mind around sending them back into that environment? How do they do that? It's just so traumatic."

Killmer said students took shelter at Perry Lutheran Homes, an assisted living community near the school.

"We were told to go home, but we were also told we could get our cars out which is not true — we can't get our cars out," Killmer said. "Watching parents come up .... as we're (evacuating) over here — within minutes, parents pulling in here and screaming and crying and hugging their kids. It was more than I can handle."

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Gov. Reynolds issues short statement

Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds posted on X at 11:35 a.m., “Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers & families of the Perry Community.”

Reynolds added, “I have been in contact with law enforcement agencies & am continuing to monitor the situation. I will be joining their press conference today.”

Republican presidential candidates, campaigning in Iowa, weigh in

Presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, who was in Perry on Thursday morning for a prior scheduled campaign event, continued with the event but declined to give a speech, instead participating in a prayer with members of the community.

He also took questions from attendees in a roundtable, and "mostly talked about mental health and (the) national conversation around school safety," deputy communications director Zach Henry told the Register.

"We pray for the victims of the tragic shooting," Ramaswamy posted on X.

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley briefly shared her thoughts on X on the shooting in Perry. She plans to be in Iowa to campaign tomorrow.

"No parent, student, or teacher should have to wake up and face news about a school shooting," she posted. "My heart aches for the victims of Perry, Iowa and the entire community."

What we know about the Perry High School principal

Perry High School's principal, Dan Marburger, is reportedly among the victims of Thursday morning's shooting at the school. Two teachers and a student said Marburger was shot.

More: What we know about Perry's high school principal, who was reportedly shot Thursday morning

What we know about Perry High School

Police continue to investigate after a shooting at the small town high school in Iowa on Thursday morning. Here's a look at details about the school and community.

More: What we know about Perry High School, the scene of an Iowa school shooting

Have there been other school shootings in Iowa?

The shooting in Perry comes nearly a year after two students were killed at an alternative school in Des Moines. Here's a look at past school shootings in Iowa:

More: A history of Iowa school shootings

Iowa lawmakers weigh in on school shooting in Perry

U.S. Rep. Zach Nunn, who represents Perry in Congress, said he was "beyond angry" at the shooting.

“After today’s tragic attack at Perry High School, I’ve remained in close contact with first-responders who have indicated to me that the school is now secure," Nunn said in a statement. "As a parent and community member, I’m beyond angry. My heart, and my commitment to holding those accountable, is with the community of Perry. We have a duty to protect our children, families, and educators."

"I remain in touch with first responders and local leaders in Perry, and I will continue to monitor the situation closely. We will not rest until there is full accountability for this heinous act of violence," Nunn added.

Senate Minority Leader Pam Jochum, D-Dubuque, opened her remarks at a legislative forum Thursday morning by addressing the shooting.

"I want to start by just extending condolences to those in Perry, Iowa," Jochum said. "I know that we are still waiting for more details on what happened there, but I think I can speak for all the Democrats and actually everybody in the state of Iowa that our hearts go out to the families, whatever has occurred there. And we will wait for more detail on that as well."

House Minority Leader Jennifer Konfrst, D-Windsor Heights, said she didn't want to discuss suggestions for gun policy changes in Iowa without knowing more about what happened in Perry.

"It’s fair to say that at this point we don’t know what’s happening in Perry and so we don’t know what the impact of legislation in this state or gun policy in this state is on what happened in Perry," she said. "So right now we’re focused on monitoring what’s happening there and I’d rather keep the students and the faculty and the families as the focus right now on the Perry incident until we know what happened."

Iowa's U.S. Sen. Chuck Grassley wrote on social media Thursday that the "Perry community is strong" and pledged to help if additional federal resources were needed.

"Today's appalling violence at Perry HS is heartbreaking," Grassley wrote. "Barbara and I are grateful for quick response by school officials & law enforcement to protect students (and) restore safety."

ISEA: 'Heartbroken by this tragedy'

“We are heartbroken by this tragedy and know that words cannot express the sorrow we feel for the victims and the pain that everyone in the community feels,” said Iowa State Education Association President Mike Beranek and Vice President Joshua Brown in a statement late Thursday morning.

The two called Perry High School “a place for learning, growth, and friendship.”

“Iowa’s public schools are the heart of all our communities; today, our hearts are shattered,” Beranek and Brown said. “We will continue to be a source of strength for one another during this challenging time, and in the face of this tragedy and so many before it, it is helpful to remember the values that truly bind us together — resilience, hope, and love.”

Perry canceled classes Friday; vigils scheduled

The Perry Community School District has canceled classes Friday, according to its districtwide communication system. Counseling services will be available at the Perry Public Library from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Thursday.

The New Day Assembly of God, 2313 First Ave., has invited the community to come together at the sanctuary at 6 p.m. Thursday. A prayer vigil will be held at Wiese Park, 1800 Pattee St., at 6 p.m. Another will be held at 7 p.m. at Crossroads Church, 2810 First Ave.

Dad reports son injured in shooting, son saw principal get shot

Kevin Shelley said his son, Zander, 15, was grazed by two bullets while in a school hallway. He left the school at about 8:30 a.m. and went to his nearby home, Kevin Shelley said. He described his son's injuries as minor.

Kevin Shelley said his son said he saw the principal get shot.

"My son was inside, said he heard gunshots and immediately started running," Kevin Shelley said. "They got into a classroom with a teacher that kept them hidden and safe."

Zander broke his glasses as he was running away, his father said.

Perry teachers told to go home

All staff have been released to go home, according to a message sent on the districtwide communications system. "Do not return to the building. More information will be available later," the text said.

More: What we know about Perry High School, the scene of an Iowa school shooting

Nearby school district lets students out early

Woodward-Granger, a school district about 11 miles east of Perry, is releasing its students early due to the shooting after it was in a shelter-in-place. The "reunification process" with students and parents began at 9 a.m.

The district also has canceled evening activities.

Dispatcher tells police multiple injured, scanner traffic says

The first call from dispatch was at about 7:37 a.m., according to a recording from the police scanner. Dispatchers said they had access to school cameras and reported seeing something in the west hallway.

A dispatcher advised first responders of "reports of multiple subjects injured at this time."

An unknown first responder advised dispatchers that he encountered a "male subject down in the hallway — appears to be self-inflicted" and that he was "showing other victims." He later advised that he was outside of Room 308 and "subject that's down is deceased."

Call for two medical helicopters went out at 7:46 a.m.

Students evacuated from Perry High School

High school students were evacuated to Perry Lutheran Homes and the Iowa National Guard Armory. Teacher Holly Killmer said the nursing home was so kind and had tissues and snacks out for the students.

Parents told to meet students at elementary school

Police on scene are telling parents to pick up their students at the elementary school, about a mile west of the high school.

Parent reports trying to get their student

Erica Jolliff said that her daughter, a ninth grader, reported getting rushed from the school grounds at 7:45 am. Distraught, Jolliff was still looking for her son Amir, a sixth grader, one hour later.

“I just want to know that he’s safe and OK,” Jolliff said. “They won’t tell me nothing.”

School board member 'praying' for those involved

When reached by phone, Perry School Board member Travis Landgrebe, who has a son in sixth grade, said he could not "confirm nor deny" any reports.

Landgrebe did confirm his son was home and unharmed.

I am "praying for all involved," Landgrebe told the Des Moines Register in a phone interview.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.This is a developing story and will be updated.

This article originally appeared on Des Moines Register: Iowa shooting updates: Suspect dead; students share their stories