Authorities reported that police were actively responding to a shooting at Perry High School in Iowa, situated approximately 35 miles from the state capital Des Moines.
While there was no immediate confirmation of any victims, a news conference was scheduled for later in the morning to provide further details.
A spokesperson from the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office confirmed the active school shooting situation, and local media shared video and photos revealing a significant police presence at the scene.
The incident raised concerns about gun violence, a prevalent issue in the United States, a nation where firearms outnumber the population, and attempts to address their proliferation face substantial political resistance.
The United States has already witnessed three mass shootings in the early days of the year, according to the Gun Violence Archive, an NGO defining a mass shooting as an incident resulting in four or more people wounded or killed.
The pervasive issue of gun violence remains a contentious topic in the country’s political landscape.
School shootings, in particular, serve as poignant reminders of the political deadlock surrounding gun control. In May 2022, a tragic incident in Uvalde, Texas, saw a man take the lives of 19 students and two teachers at an elementary school.
The incident heightened concerns about the need for effective measures to address and prevent such tragic events.
