Perry, Iowa – The principal of a small Iowa high school who was wounded during a school shooting earlier this month has tragically passed away, his family announced. Dan Marburger, who had been the principal of Perry High School since 1995, sustained serious injuries on January 4th while helping students and staff evacuate the school following the deadly shooting carried out by a 17-year-old student. The shooter took the life of a sixth-grader and injured five others, including Marburger.
A GoFundMe page was created to assist Marburger’s family with medical expenses in the aftermath of the shooting, and it confirmed the devastation of the Perry community. The 17-year-old suspect, who was a student at the high school, was later found dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound by responding officers.
The tragic incident took place on the first day of classes in 2024, spotlighting the ongoing issue of gun violence in schools across the United States. Perry, a small town northwest of Des Moines, has a population of approximately 79,00 and both the middle and high schools share a single campus.
The community of Perry is left mourning the loss of a beloved principal whose dedicated service to the school has left an indelible impact. As the nation continues to grapple with the devastating impact of school shootings, the Perry community is left to come to terms with the aftermath and support the individuals affected by this senseless act of violence.