Multiple people have been confirmed injured following a shooting at Perry High School in the US state of Iowa on Thursday morning, police disclosed.
The suspect, however, has been confirmed dead, but it is unclear if it was from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Officials stated that the extent and number of injuries are still being determined.
The shooting occurred on the first day back in classes for students after their annual winter break.
Reports of an active shooter came in at approximately 07:40 local time (13:40 GMT), and the first officer reached the scene within seven minutes, police said.
“Luckily, there were very few students and faculty in the building, which I think contributed to a good outcome in that sense,” Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante told reporters. There was no further threat to the community, he said.
Perry High School teacher Lori Meinecke informed a local radio station that she heard six to seven gunshots about that time.
The middle school was evacuated around 08:25 local time, and the high school was evacuated around 08:27 local time. Both institutions are located on the same campus.
Kevin Shelley, a 15-year-old’s parent, told a local station that his kid was shot in the hallway but is fine.
Mr. Shelley’s son reported that his father was attacked in the back and had his arm grazed before fleeing into a classroom to seek refuge with other kids.
According to a hospital representative, injured students were brought to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center.
Sheriff Infante stated during the press conference that the majority of the students have already been reunited with their families.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) agents are on the scene. The probe will be led by the Iowa Department of Criminal Justice.
“It is horrendously awful,” said Linda Andorf, board president for the Perry Community School District, NBC reported. “This is just disgusting. It’s terrible.”
Perry will not be attending school on Friday.
Officials stated that another news conference would be held on Thursday afternoon.
According to the White House, US President Joe Biden has been briefed on the shooting and is in contact with the state’s governor’s office.
Perry has a population of less than 10,000 people and is located about 40 miles (64 kilometers) northwest of Iowa’s capital, Des Moines.
The tragedy occurred just days before the Iowa caucuses, which kick off the Republican nomination process in 2024.
