Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger has died after battling self-inflicted gunshot wounds, local authorities said Sunday, bringing the death toll to two.
An 11-year-old student was killed in a shooting at Perry High School.
At the time of the shooting, media reported that at least seven people were injured.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds expressed her grief in a statement Sunday, saying the state is “devastated by the news of Dan Marburger’s death.”
“Dan bravely put himself in danger to protect his students and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will always be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions. May he rest in peace.”
Governor Reynolds also ordered all flags in Iowa to be flown at half-staff.
“Dan Marburger is more than the principal of Perry High School. Dan is a husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle, cousin and friend who lives and breathes for his family,” his family wrote. on GoFundMe.
“Being principal at Perry High School since 1995 also means that Dan’s family includes those who have ever walked the halls of Perry High School.”
“Dan Marburger made the ultimate sacrifice,” his family said, adding that “the entire Marburger family and the entire Perry community will forever be touched by Mr. Marburger’s selflessness.”
The shooting at Perry High School – which took place on January 4 – has raised concerns about gun violence, which is a prevalent problem in the US. According to the data, there are more firearms than the population in the US, and attempts to address their proliferation face considerable political resistance.
According to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO that defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are injured or killed, the United States has already seen three mass shootings in the first few days of the year.
School shootings in particular serve as poignant reminders of the political gridlock over gun control. In a tragic incident in Uvalda, Texas in May 2022, a man took the lives of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school.
