Perry, Iowa – The parents of Dylan Butler, the Iowa school shooter who tragically killed a sixth grader and injured several others before taking his own life, have spoken out, expressing their shock over their son’s actions. Jack and Erin Butler said they had no idea their 17-year-old son was capable of such violence when they dropped him off at Perry High School last Thursday.
In a statement released by their attorney, the Butlers revealed that they had discussed the future with Dylan on the drive to school and believed he was ready to return to school after the Christmas vacation and the start of a new semester. They also shared their anguish at the fact that their daughter was in the school at the time of the shooting, emphasizing that they could not understand why Dylan chose to commit such a heinous act.
Before the start of classes, Dylan entered the school with a shotgun, a small-caliber handgun, and a makeshift explosive device and proceeded to shoot and kill sixth grader Ahmir Jolliff, as well as injure four students and three staff members before taking his own life. While he had plans to inflict even more harm, his body was found with an undetonated explosive device, described by police as “pretty rudimentary.”
Following the tragic event, the Butlers expressed their devastation and affirmed that they would continue to work with authorities to provide answers about why their son committed the senseless crime. The motive behind the shooting and how Dylan obtained the firearms remains unclear, and those who knew him described him as a quiet person who had experienced bullying since elementary school.
Sisters Yesenia Roeder and Khamya Hall, accompanied by their mother Alita, claimed that Dylan snapped after his younger sister also became a target of bullying. Additionally, a cryptic video posted by Dylan on his since-deleted social media hinted at the events about to unfold at the school, further adding to the complexity of the situation.
In conclusion, the Perry High School shooting has left the community in shock and sorrow as they grapple with the aftermath of the tragic events. The Butlers have promised to cooperate with authorities to gain an understanding of why their son chose to carry out such a devastating act. The search for answers continues as the community mourns the loss of young Ahmir Jolliff and grapples with the injuries inflicted on multiple students and staff members.