UPDATE: Sixth Grade Student Killed in Iowa School Shooting

Update (Thursday 3 pm):

Iowa DCI Assistant Director Mitch Mortvedt says one person was killed in today’s shooting at Perry High School. The victim was a 6th grade student at Perry Middle School, which is connected to the high school.

The suspect has been identified as 17-year-old Dylan Butler, who was a student at the school. The DCI says Butler was armed with a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun to carry out the shooting. He died of a self-inflicted gunshot.

Five other victims, identified as four students and a Perry school administrator, are being treated at local hospitals. One is in critical condition, while the other four are in stable condition as of Thursday afternoon.

The victims’ names have not been released.

During a news conference Thursday afternoon, Perry Police Chief Eric Vaughn was emotional as he praised teachers, staff and students for acting bravely and heroically during a tragic situation.

Authorities are investigating the possible motive for today’s shooting.

Original story (Thursday 10:30 am):

The Dallas County Sheriff says they’ve identified the person who fired several shots inside Perry High School about 15 minutes before school was to start this morning.

Raccoon Valley Radio interviewed Perry High School Teacher Lori Meinecke, who said at about 7:40 a.m. she heard about six to seven gunshots followed by the voices of several school coaches encouraging everyone to evacuate the area. One of the hospitals in Des Moines has confirmed its medical helicopter and ambulances were dispatched to Perry.

Dallas County Sheriff Adam Infante, who spoke with reporters at the scene shortly after 10 am, says there are multiple victims.

The sheriff says an officer was at the scene within seven minutes of the emergency call that there was an active shooter in the school.

Two law enforcement sources with knowledge tell CBS News that the shooting suspect is dead. The suspect is described as being born in 2006, but it’s not known if the suspect is a student at Perry High School. It’s also unclear if the suspect died from a self-inflicted gun shot wound.

Perry is located about 40 miles northwest of Des Moines. This was the first day of school in Perry after the holiday break.

partial story contribution courtesy of Radio Iowa