One person has been killed and two have been injured following a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa on Thursday morning, law enforcement sources said.
There are hundreds of emergency services at the scene, which is 25 miles northwest of Des Moines. Ambulances, multiple police units, air ambulance helicopters, and firefighters were called to the school just after 7.40am.
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the shooting investigation. The FBI Omaha Des Moines is on the scene, as is the the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosive.
Today is the first day back after the winter break for the 1,785 students who study at the Perry Community School District. The high school is currently on lockdown.
The number of potential injuries and victims have not yet been confirmed by police, but ABC reports that one person was killed in the shooting.
Perry High School is on lockdown after a shooting was reported just after 7.30am this morning
Armed police are seen responding to the shooting at the high school
A line of red and blue flashing police cars are seen outside the school
Two armed officers stand outside the high school following the active shooter investigation
Multiple agencies, including firefighers and ambulances, are seen at the scene on Thursday morning. Police confirmed that there is an active shooter investigation underway
Carlos, who is a student at Perry High School, told WHO 13 that he and his friends thought the ‘loud bangs’ were part of a prank at first – before a teacher started screaming at students to ‘leave, leave, leave.’
He said: ‘I heard a couple of bangs, they weren’t loud. We saw loads of people run out. We thought it was a prank or something. We didn’t think it was real at first.’
Erica Jolliff said that her daughter, a ninth grader, reported getting rushed from the school grounds at 7.45am.
Distraught, Jolliff was still looking for her son Amir, a sixth grader, one hour later.
‘I just want to know that he´s safe and OK,’ Jolliff said. ‘They won´t tell me nothing.’
Zander Shelley, 15, was in a hallway waiting for the first day of school after break to start when he heard gunshots and dashed into a classroom, according to his father, Kevin Shelley.
The teenager was grazed twice and hid in the classroom before texting his dad at 7:36am.
Kevin Shelley, who drives a garbage truck, told his boss he had to run. ‘It was the most scared I´ve been in my entire life,’ he said.
A helicopter has landed on the high school’s football pitch (pictured). Shots were reported at 7.40am. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing crying students reuniting with parents near the entrance to the high school
Shots were first reported at 7.40am. Witnesses at the scene reported seeing crying students reuniting with parents near the entrance to the high school.
Perry Elementary School and Perry Middle School – which are nearby to the high school – were evacuated and buildings were cleared by 8.32am.
There is no active threat in those vicinities. The high school is the focus of the investigation – which was cleared by a team of officers at 8.27am.
Victims were transported to MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center, a hospital spokesperson confirmed. It is still unclear how many victims there are.
Just after 9.30am local time, police issued a shelter-in-place warning for people living in Woodward-Granger, a nearby community – but this was soon lifted.
An Iowa police officer stands outside the high school on Thursday morning
A sign informing parents what to do as they arrive at the school is projected at the scene
The Dallas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the active shooting investigation – but said no other information is available at this time
Today is the first day back after the winter break for students at Perry High School
One helicopter landed on the high school’s football field.
Linda Andorf, board president for the Perry Community School District, said: ‘It is horrendously awful. People need to figure out their life.
‘This is just disgusting. It’s terrible.’
The shooting occurred in the backdrop of the Iowa caucuses and not far from where Republican candidates were campaigning.
Vivek Ramaswamy, who has a campaign event planned in Perry today, wrote on X: ‘Pray for the community in Perry, Iowa this morning.’
The presidential candidate is expected to continue on with his event today, which is taking place just five minutes away from the high school.
Perry is a very diverse, working class suburb of Des Moines.
A press conference is scheduled to take place at 11am ET.