(Perry) In the United States, police in the small town of Perry, Iowa, confirmed that several people were injured in a shooting at a high school Thursday morning, the first day back to school after the holiday break.
Authorities have not said how many people were injured, but area hospitals confirmed they had at least three patients in connection with the shooting.
The suspect believed to be behind the shooting is dead. Authorities believe he died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to a source who spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to publicly reveal details of the police investigation.
Three injured people had to be transported by ambulance to the Methodist Medical Center of Iowa, which is in Des Moines, the state capital, about 40 miles southeast of Perry.
Other injured people were also transported to MercyOne Medical Center in Des Moines, but its spokesperson would not specify how many.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante said the shooting happened before classes started, meaning few students were in the school.
An active shooter was reported at 7:37 a.m. Thursday morning. According to Sheriff Infante, law enforcement arrived on scene seven minutes later.
PHOTO SCOTT MORGAN, REUTERS
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante (center)
During his press briefing, Mr. Infante confirmed that officers located several people with gunshot wounds at the school, but he could not specify how many or in what condition they were.
A spokesperson for UnityPoint Health, which operates Iowa Methodist Medical Center, confirmed that two people injured in the shooting were treated at the facility.
A large number of emergency vehicles surrounded the building that houses the local high school and middle school Thursday morning.
PHOTO ANDREW HARNIK, ASSOCIATED PRESS
Zander Shelley, 15, was in a hallway waiting for the school day to start when he heard gunshots. He rushed into a classroom, according to his father, Kevin Shelley. The teen was brushed twice and hid in the classroom before texting his father at 7:36 a.m.
Kevin Shelley, who drives a garbage truck, told his boss he had to leave. “I had the biggest fear of my entire life,” he said.
Rachael Kares, an 18-year-old student, was finishing her jazz band rehearsal at 8:37 a.m. – she had just looked at her watch – when she and her bandmates heard what she described as four gunshots. spaced apart.
“Everyone jumped,” she said. Our teacher looked at us and yelled at us to run. So off we went running. »
She and many other students at the school ran past the soccer field when she heard people shouting, “Get out!” Get out! »
FBI agents from the Omaha-Des Moines office were on scene to assist in the investigation by the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
The Perry Community School District has 1,785 students. Perry is about 40 miles (65 kilometers) northwest of Iowa’s capital, Des Moines.