WHS Students, Administrator Respond to Perry High School Shooting
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Waukee High School students and officials were notified Thursday morning that a school shooting occurred at Perry High School.
Students started getting texts from their parents and noticing reports on social media around 8:30 am. Perry police confirmed that there had been a shooting, and local news station KCCI reported that there were multiple victims, including a school administrator.
Principal Cary Justmann messaged teachers acknowledging that he was aware of the situation, but he did not immediately reach out to students and parents. “People above my level, at district office, are going to do that when we get more information,” he told The Arrowhead.
During first block, students reacted to the news and rumors that were appearing on their phones.
Beverly Zheng, a junior, received a text message that informed her about the shooting. “It’s a little unsettling when it’s nearby,” Zheng said. Perry is a town 27 miles northwest of WHS.
Band director Mr. Kolusu heard the news from a student just before he saw Mr. Justmann’s email. “I feel really sad for that community because that thing can happen anywhere,” he said. “And it just hits so close to home.”
Junior Jack Lau remarked, “I think it’s so crazy. It doesn’t feel real.” Lau was looking at a photo on his phone that some people claimed was the shooter, though this was not confirmed by police at the time.
Band director Mr. Kolusu expressed confidence that Waukee’s administration is doing “the best they can do to keep us safe.”
Justmann said that today’s incident happened right before the school day started, so it’s especially important for students to be vigilant, “whether you talk to a teacher, staff, or student about anything suspicious.” he said. “We’re going to reinforce what we’re currently doing, which is, ‘see something, say something.’”
The shooting is not the only incident of gun violence resulting in the death of students. At least two other shootings have occurred in central Iowa in the past two years, both in Des Moines: Starts Right Here alternative school in 2023 and East High School in 2022.