Three injured after Iowa school shooting

4 January 2024, 18:22

By Jasmine Moody

Several people were shot at a school in Perry, Iowa, in the US, police said on Thursday, on pupils' first day back after their winter break.

Two of the gunshot victims were taken to Iowa Methodist Medical Centre in the state capital of Des Moines, about 40 miles southeast of Perry, a community of about 8,000 people.

Dallas County sheriff Adam Infante said the shooting happened before school started, so there were few pupils and staff there.

The suspect in the shooting has died of what investigators believe is a self-inflicted gunshot wound, a law enforcement official told The Associated Press.

An active gunman was reported at 7.37am (1.30pm) local time and officers arrived seven minutes later, Mr Infante said.

Emergency vehicles surrounded the building, which houses both the town's middle school and high school.

Read more: Storm Henk claims second victim after woman dies in fallen tree crash - as police refer themselves to watchdog
Read more: Harvard University’s president resigns following plagiarism accusations and furore over comments on anti-Semitism

Iowa's governor, Kim Reynolds wrote on X/Twitter: "Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers & families of the Perry Community.

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

A spokesman for UnityPoint Health, which operates the Des Moines hospital, confirmed the two gunshot victims arrived there.

Zander Shelley, 15, was in a hallway waiting for the school day to start when he heard gunshots and dashed into a classroom, according to his father, Kevin Shelley.

Zander was grazed twice and hid in the classroom before texting his father at 7.36am.

Rachael Kares, 18, was finishing jazz band practice when she and her bandmates heard what she described as four gunshots, spaced apart.

"We all just jumped," Ms Kares said. "My band teacher looked at us and yelled, 'Run!' So we ran."

Mr Infante added during a news conference that officers located several people with injuries, but could not confirm how many there were or their conditions.

Now, Perry Elementary School said there will be no school on Friday but will be offering counselling services to those in need.