By Aditi Sangal, Antoinette Radford, Elise Hammond, Adrienne Vogt and Tori B. Powell, CNN
At least one person was killed in a shooting at a school in Perry, Iowa, on Thursday, according to Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt.
That person was a sixth grade student at the middle school, he said during a news conference.
Five other victims are being treated at hospitals in the area, according to Mortvedt. Four of them are students and one is a school administrator, he said.
Police officers located "an improvised explosive device" inside Perry High School in Iowa while undergoing a search of the building following the shooting, according to Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt of the Division of Criminal Investigation.
Iowa's state fire marshal and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms "rendered the device safe," he said during a Thursday news conference.
"Numerous officers from multiple agencies were able to secure the school and verify no additional threats," he said.
Mortvedt called law enforcement's response to the shooting "swift and immediate," adding that approximately 150 officers from the local, state and federal level responded within an hour of the incident.
"The investigation into this tragedy is ongoing," he said.
Iowa Department of Public Safety Division of Criminal Investigation Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt said authorities entered Perry High School and found the suspected shooter dead of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Students and faculty were sheltering in place or running from the school when officers entered, he said. Once inside, they found multiple people with gunshot wounds.
"As additional officers responded, a systematic approach and search of the school took place," he said.
Officers located an improvised explosive device during the search, he added, but the state fire marshal and Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives officials rendered it safe.
Thursday was scheduled to be the first day back for students after winter break, according to the school district's calendar. Classes had not begun yet.
"There were not many students. It is our understanding that there was a breakfast program going on. There may have been students of different grades in school at that time. It was all contained in Perry High School. It is still part of the investigation," Mortvedt said.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds thanked law enforcement and first responders for their fast response to a shooting at Perry High School on Thursday.
“Their heroic actions today we can say saved lives,” she said.
Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante previously said authorities were notified of an active shooter at 7:37 a.m. local time and arrived on the scene within seven minutes.
Multiple people were wounded in the shooting, officials said.
The governor said she is working to continue to gather more details about what happened in order to prevent another shooting.
Senior White House staff has been in touch with the Iowa governor’s office, White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said earlier.
Law enforcement is giving an update on today's shooting at Perry High School in Iowa.
Gov. Kim Reynolds is in attendance.
Authorities said multiple people were wounded in the shooting. Earlier today, police declined to provide details on how many people were hurt and the extent of their injuries.
The shooter is dead, according to a law enforcement official.
From CNN's Morgan Rimmer
Following the shooting at Perry High School this morning, US Sens. Joni Ernst and Chuck Grassley, both Republicans from Iowa, expressed gratitude to local law enforcement for their "quick response."
“My team is in touch with officials in Dallas County about the heartbreaking situation at Perry High School. Join us in praying for the safety and recovery of those involved,” Ernst posted on X. “Thank you to law enforcement for the swift response.”
Grassley added: "Todays appalling violence at Perry HS is heartbreaking Barbara + I are grateful for quick response by school officials &law enforcement to protect students +restore safety."
He added that the "Perry community is strong" and will come together at this time. Grassley also offered any help if federal resources are needed.
From CNN's Samantha Waldenberg
White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said that “our hearts break” for the families of the victims in the shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, also calling on Congress to pass legislation to combat gun violence.
“Our hearts break for the families of the victims in yet another act of senseless gun violence. We are grateful for the brave first responders who are on the scene,” Jean-Pierre told reporters during Thursday’s press briefing at the White House.
The president is tracking the shooting, and senior White House staff has been in touch with the Iowa governor’s office, she added.
Jean-Pierre also urged Congress to act in the wake of this school shooting, saying that “we cannot allow these tragedies to continue.”
"Congress must act to enact universal background checks, ban assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, (and) require safe storage of firearms," she said, adding that "the gun industry's immunity from liability" must stop and a national "red flag" law should be passed.
"We cannot allow these tragedies to continue," Jean-Pierre said.
From CNN’s Andy Rose
Multiple people are in Des Moines hospitals following the high school shooting in Perry, Iowa, Thursday, according to health officials.
“Multiple patients are being treated at Iowa Methodist Medical Center and MercyOne. All families of the victims have been reunited,” the Polk County Medical Coordination Center said in a statement.
Earlier on Thursday, police had declined to provide details on how many people were hurt and the extent of their injuries.
Iowa Gov. Kim Reynolds expressed heartbreak after the shooting at Perry High School, calling it a "senseless tragedy."
"Our hearts are broken by this senseless tragedy. Our prayers are with the students, teachers & families of the Perry Community," she wrote in a post on X, formerly Twitter.
She said she continues to monitor the situation and will join a news conference with law enforcement officials later today. The time of the news conference has not yet been announced.
