‘Multiple victims’ after US school shooting in Iowa – at least one dead

Several people are thought to have died after a teenager went on a suspected shooting rampage at a school in the US.

An active shooter was reported at Perry High School in Iowa.

Police said there are “multiple victims” after a teenager began shooting at a school in the midwestern US state of Iowa.

It’s thought at least one person has died, reported the US’ ABC network, in addition to the shooter who also died at the scene.

It happened on the first day students had returned to class from their Christmas break.

Officers swarmed Perry Middle and High School, in the town of Perry about 61km from Des Moines, at 7.40am local time (12.40am Friday AEDT).

It’s not known if the shooter was a student of the school.

The condition of the victims is unclear but is being reported there is at least one fatality. Several people are said to have been taken to a hospital in Des Moines.

“Our hearts break for the families of the victims in yet another act of senseless gun violence,” said White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre who urged Congress to pass tougher gun laws.

CBS News reported that some parents were being turned away from the school and didn’t know where their children were.

“I just want to know that he’s safe and OK,” Erica Jolliff said of her son Amir.

A police officer stands guard outside the Perry Middle School (Photo by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

Police officers secure the campus at Perry Middle and High School. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP)

Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante confirmed the shooter had been identified and was born in 2006 which would make them around 16 years old.

The shooting began before the school day started which police have said meant there were fewer students in the building then there might have been later in the day.

A teacher has said they heard six or seven gunshots.

Police have said the scene is now “secured”.

“There is no further danger to the public. The community is safe,” Sheriff Infante said.

Police patrol the Perry Middle School and High School complex. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP)

Two people embrace at a reunification centre in the McCreary Community Building after a shooting at the Perry Middle and High School complex. (Photo by Christian Monterrosa / AFP)

“We’re just now working backwards, trying to figure out everything that happened and make notifications.”

The Perry School incident is the second school shooting in the US in 2024 coming just four days into the new year.

In 2023, the US saw 656 mass shooting events which killed 731 people, according to the Gun Violence Archive which defines a mass shooting as four or more people shot. That’s down on a high of 686 mass shootings in 2021, but far higher than totals pre-2020 when around 300 mass shootings annually was more standard.

It’s not known how many people were shot at the school so it’s not clear if it is a mass shooting event.

An officer outside Perry High School.

People watch as police respond to a school shooting at the Perry Middle School and High School complex on January 04, 2024 in Perry, Iowa. (Photo by SCOTT OLSON / GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA / Getty Images via AFP)

The streets surrounding the school remain blocked off. Perry High School has cancelled all classes for the day.

“Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers and families of the Perry Community,” Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds said on Thursday.

Kris Brown, president of gun violence prevention organisation Brady, said students should not have to hide in their classrooms “fearing for their lives”.

“New Year, same horror. These students were returning to campus after their holiday break only to be met with gun violence that has uniquely plagued their generation,” he told CNN.

Originally published as ‘Multiple victims’ after US school shooting in Iowa – at least one dead