PERRY, Iowa – Last week’s shooting at Perry High School has raised concerns surrounding the shooter’s activity on the online platform Discord. It has been revealed that the 17-year-old gunman, identified as Dylan Butler, had an active account on the platform where he allegedly discussed school shootings and made alarming statements before the attack unfolded.
Butler’s actions resulted in the tragic death of sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff and left four other students and three staff members injured, including the school principal Dan Marburger. Prior to his self-inflicted gunshot wound, the police discovered an improvised explosive device at the scene. Law enforcement is currently investigating Butler’s use of social media and tech platforms, including Discord.
Leading up to the shooting, Butler posted a video on TikTok from a username “tooktoomuch,” which was believed to be linked to his Discord account “took2much.” Screenshots of messages from this account revealed that the user expressed readiness for the impending events and used a racial slur, indicating disturbing behavior. A spokesperson from Discord confirmed that the “took2much” username belonged to Butler.
In addition to expressing concern about the user’s messages, a chatroom participant who had interacted with the user “took2much” raised the alarm with the FBI in November. However, the chatroom was closed before the shooting took place. Similar instances of online platforms being used prior to attacks have been reported in the past, raising questions about the role of tech companies in preventing such incidents.
Discord’s response to the incident indicated their zero-tolerance policy towards violent content and their cooperation with law enforcement to aid in the ongoing investigation. The FBI declined to comment on the matter, while previous instances of Discord’s involvement in preventing attacks have also been documented.
The tragic events at Perry High School have once again highlighted the potential dangers of online platforms and the importance of monitoring and addressing concerning behaviors. The impact of social media and tech platforms on real-world violence continues to be a significant concern for law enforcement and communities alike.