WHO WAS KILLED IN THE SHOOTING. YES. WE JUST LEARNED HOURS AGO HIS NAME, AMIR JOSEPH. I TALKED WITH A CLASSMATE WHO SAYS AMIR WAS HER BEST FRIEND. HE WAS MY BEST FRIEND. SIXTH GRADER ZOE BATISTA IS MOURNING THE DEATH OF HER CLASSMATE, A BOY SHE CALLS HER BEST FRIEND SINCE FOURTH GRADE. HE WAS GENEROUS, AND HE WOULD ALWAYS STICK UP FOR PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT, AND AND UM. HE WAS ALWAYS KIND. AND HE WAS CHEERFUL EVERY DAY. ZOE SAYS HER FRIEND WAS IN THE CAFETERIA WHEN SHOTS RANG OUT THURSDAY. SHE AND HER SISTER HAD JUST ARRIVED AT SCHOOL BUT WERE NOT IN THE BUILDING YET. I, LIKE FROZE FOR A SECOND AND THAT’S WHEN MY SISTER, SHE WAS LIKE, RUN! AND THAT’S WHEN WE BOLTED. I WAS IN SHOCK. I WAS LIKE LOOKING AROUND, TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT HAPPENED AND WHO DID IT, WHY THIS WOULD HAPPEN. BUT I DIDN’T LET THAT STOP ME FROM RUNNING WITH MY SISTER. THE GIRLS CALLED THEIR DAD, WHO HAD JUST DROPPED THEM OFF. JUAN MORALES CAME BACK MAKING HIM ONE OF THE FIRST PARENTS ON SCENE. OH, WE ALL GRABBED EACH OTHER. WHAT DID YOU SAY TO YOUR DAUGHTERS IN THAT MOMENT THAT I LOVE? OH, MAN. I’M JUST GLAD THAT THEY WERE OKAY. WHEREAS USED HIS PHONE TO LIVE STREAM A KID SHOT RIGHT THERE, HE SAYS IN THAT MOMENT, HE NEEDED TO TRANSLATE AND KEEP THE LATINO COMMUNITY INFORMED ABOUT WHAT WAS HAPPENING. A DOS, PERSONAS, HEARTBREAK KING CHAOS UNFOLDS. DISTRAUGHT PARENTS ARRIVING AND STUDENTS RUNNING. AS SOON AS I GOT THERE AND AND STARTED DIRECTING TRAFFIC, THE NEXT THING I REMEMBER WAS IS ONE OF THE KIDS, UH, SCREAM AND SAY, I GOT SHOT. AND WHEN I LOOKED TO THE SIDE, I JUST NOTICED THAT HE HAD FALLEN. HE THEN WATCHED AS ANOTHER VICTIM WAS LOADED INTO AN AMBULANCE. SHE GOT CLOSE. SO CLOSE TO WHERE I WAS THAT I WAS ABLE TO SEE BLOOD COMING OUT OF HER HEAD BY HER NECK AND STUFF LIKE THAT. JUST SEEING THE KIDS AND STRESS AND AND PANICKING AND AND JUST SCREAMING. I DON’T KNOW WHAT GAVE ME THE STRENGTH, BUT SOMEONE WAS THERE WITH ME TO, TO TO GUIDE ME. FAMILIES MIND. I MEAN, IT JUST JUST WHAT THEY’VE LIVED THROUGH IS UNBELIEVABLE. WHAT SO MANY PEOPLE HAVE LIVED THROUGH IN THIS COMMUNITY. AND INVESTIGATORS ARE TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHY MY 17 YEAR OLD DILLON BUTLER, BROUGHT TWO GUNS TO SCHOOL, ALONG WIT
Iowa school shooting: Authorities identify sixth-grader killed in Perry shooting
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Updated: 6:29 PM CST Jan 6, 2024
Authorities on Friday identified the sixth-grader who was killed Thursday morning in the Perry school shooting. A 17-year-old Perry High School student opened fire early Thursday, before classes reconvened after winter break, killing 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and wounding seven others, including four students and three school staffers.According to a news release from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Ahmir was shot three times.In a news conference Friday, Perry schools superintendent Clark Wicks said classes for Perry High School students will be canceled all next week. The earliest classes will resume for elementary and middle school students will be Friday, Jan. 12. Zoey Bautista, a sixth-grader and friend of Ahmir, spoke Friday with vlog's Laura Terrell. You can watch the video below."He was my best friend," Zoey said. "He was always there for everybody."Watch: Perry student remembers sixth-grade classmate, friend killed in shooting Perry High School principal Dan Marburger was among the wounded. "The investigation thus far confirms Principal Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students," Iowa DCI's news release said Friday. He was shot multiple times and is still in critical condition, authorities said.Dan Marburger and two students remain hospitalized while all other injured victims have been treated and released.Marburger has been with Perry schools for 25 years, according to his biography on the Perry staff directory. He attended Central College and got his master's degree in educational administration from Drake University, according to his bio.Wicks commended Marburger and others, and said active shooter training helped everyone involved react to the shooting."Mr. Marburger, he was a hero," he said. "I know ... the way he approached that situation ... saved some lives."Authorities said the shooter, Dylan Butler used a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun in the attack. Butler died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities confirmed Friday.More coverage from Perry: Authorities identify 17-year-old shooter who killed 1, wounded 5 in Perry school shooting Families recount terrifying moments from inside Perry High School during deadly shooting Police on massive response to Perry High School: 'No community is immune' Iowa leaders, elected officials react to Perry High School shooting Resources available for families impacted by Perry High School shooting Dispatch recordings provide timeline of Perry High School shooting in Iowa Perry High School principal Dan Marburger among 5 wounded 'May this vigil be a beacon of light': Hundreds gather at Perry park to pray and mourn as a community
PERRY, Iowa — Authorities on Friday identified the sixth-grader who was killed Thursday morning in the Perry school shooting.
A 17-year-old Perry High School student opened fire early Thursday, before classes reconvened after winter break, killing 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff and wounding seven others, including four students and three school staffers.
According to a news release from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, Ahmir was shot three times.
In a news conference Friday, Perry schools superintendent Clark Wicks said classes for Perry High School students will be canceled all next week. The earliest classes will resume for elementary and middle school students will be Friday, Jan. 12.
Zoey Bautista, a sixth-grader and friend of Ahmir, spoke Friday with vlog's Laura Terrell. You can watch the video below.
"He was my best friend," Zoey said. "He was always there for everybody."
Watch: Perry student remembers sixth-grade classmate, friend killed in shooting
Perry High School principal Dan Marburger was among the wounded.
"The investigation thus far confirms Principal Marburger acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students," Iowa DCI's news release said Friday. He was shot multiple times and is still in critical condition, authorities said.
Dan Marburger and two students remain hospitalized while all other injured victims have been treated and released.
Marburger has been with Perry schools for 25 years, according to his biography on . He attended Central College and got his master's degree in educational administration from Drake University, according to his bio.
Wicks commended Marburger and others, and said active shooter training helped everyone involved react to the shooting.
"Mr. Marburger, he was a hero," he said. "I know ... the way he approached that situation ... saved some lives."
Authorities said the shooter, Dylan Butler used a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun in the attack. Butler died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound, authorities confirmed Friday.
More coverage from Perry:
