Iowa community mourns sixth-grader’s death, questions bullying impact

A 17-year-old student, Dylan Butler, fatally shot a fellow sixth-grade student and injured five others before taking his own life. Butler was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-calibre handgun, and investigators found a “rudimentary” explosive device at the school.

Reports suggest that Butler had planned to harm more individuals, but the shooting occurred before the start of the school day, limiting potential victims. Described by his family as “the kindest person ever,” Dylan Butler had been reportedly enduring relentless bullying since elementary school. Despite his quiet demeanor, the family alleges that school officials failed to address the issue, leading Butler to a desperate and tragic act.

Yesenia Roeder, Dylan’s sister, stressed that Dylan had grown weary of relentless bullying, saying, “He was hurting. He got tired of the bullying. He got tired of the harassment. Was it a smart idea to shoot up the school? No. God, no.” Khamya Hall echoed this, expressing remorse for not being there enough for her brother during his time of need.

In the lead-up to the shooting, Butler shared cryptic content on social media. On TikTok, he posted a video from what seemed to be a school bathroom stall with the caption “now we wait.” The song “Stray Bullet” by KMFDM played in the background, with lyrics that eerily echoed sentiments of nightmare and destruction. Additionally, Butler posted videos on Reddit, where he imitated characters from horror movies and notorious serial killers, raising concerns about his mental state.

The incident adds to the three mass shootings recorded by the Gun Violence Archive this year.

While the tragedy prompted prayers from those seeking the Republican nomination in Iowa, there has been a lack of substantive policy proposals from top contenders.

Vivek Ramaswamy, currently polling fourth in Iowa, cancelled a campaign event in Perry, where the shooting occurred, turning it into “a prayer and conversation.”