Iowa Principal Dies After Heroic Effort to Protect Students During School Shooting

Perry, Iowa - The small community of Perry, Iowa is mourning the loss of Principal Dan Marburger, who tragically lost his life while trying to protect students during a school shooting on January 4th. Governor Kim Reynolds announced the devastating news on Sunday, stating that Marburger had succumbed to his injuries.

The shooting took place at Perry High School when a 17-year-old student, identified as Dylan Butler, opened fire in the cafeteria. Marburger, along with three other staff members and four students, was injured during the attack. Tragically, one student lost their life in the incident.

Marburger's daughter, Claire Marburger, took to Facebook to share her father's brave actions during the shooting. She expressed that it was no surprise to her that her father had put himself in harm's way to protect the students and staff. "It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk [the shooter] down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria. That's just Dad," she wrote.

Following the shooting, Marburger underwent surgery for his injuries. While initially stable, his condition took a turn for the worse, and he passed away around 8 a.m. on Sunday. His family shared the heartbreaking news on a fundraising page, expressing their gratitude for the ten extra days they had with him.

Governor Reynolds expressed her condolences to Marburger's wife and family, stating, "Our entire state is devastated by the news of Dan Marburger's death. Kevin and I offer our deepest condolences to his wife and family as we pray for their comfort during this very difficult time. May he rest in peace."

In honor of Marburger's sacrifice, Governor Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff at the State Capitol Building. The flags will remain at half-staff until sunset on the day of Marburger's funeral and interment.

Authorities have identified the shooter, Dylan Butler, as a quiet student who had allegedly been bullied for years. Butler died by suicide after the shooting, using a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Police found a pump-action shotgun and a small caliber handgun in his possession, along with a "pretty rudimentary" improvised explosive device, which was safely rendered by authorities.

Investigators are looking into social media posts made by Butler around the time of the shooting. One post on TikTok showed him inside the bathroom of Perry High School with the caption "now we wait" and the song “Stray Bullet” by the German band KMFDM playing in the background. Other photos of Butler posing with firearms have also been discovered.

The motive behind the shooting remains unclear, but the community is coming together to support the victims and their families during this difficult time. The loss of Principal Dan Marburger serves as a reminder of the bravery and selflessness displayed by educators in the face of tragedy.