A high school student was killed and five people were shot dead when a 17-year-old high school student opened fire at a school in Iowa, AFP reported.

Crime scenes Photo: SCOOTERCASTER / Sam Hartson / Alamy / Alamy / Profimedia

The attacker, who was found “with a self-inflicted wound,” had two weapons, including a hunting rifle, according to Mitch Mortvedt, a local official.

“Six were injured, one of them died. This person was a student,” he added. Four of the victims were students, and the fifth was a member of the administration, he added.

“There is no longer any danger to the public,” Sheriff Adam Infante told the media, confirming that authorities had identified the attacker, but declined to comment on his identity or condition.

According to a number of mass media, the attacker died. According to NBC News, he committed suicide.

Filming took place in the small town of Perry, about 60 kilometers from Des Moines, the state capital.

According to the sheriff, the presence of an armed man was reported around 07:37 local time.

Police arrived “within seven minutes” and “located multiple gunshot wounds.” We don’t know exactly how many (people) were injured (…), but we are working on it,” he said.

“Fortunately, there were very few students and teachers in the school,” as morning classes had not yet started, he added.

According to local media, it was the first day back after the winter break. Footage from the school shows an increased police presence.

Armed attacks are a disaster

The shooting comes as Iowa prepares for the start of the Republican primary season on Jan. 15, when voters go to caucuses.

The United States has more firearms than its population and has the highest gun-related death rate of any developed nation.

Gun attacks are a recurring scourge, and governments are still powerless to deal with them because many Americans remain very attached to their guns.

In this country, schools and colleges regularly become the scene of armed attacks. In May 2022, a man killed 19 students and two teachers at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas.

And in February 2018, a former Parkland High School student in Florida fatally shot 14 students and three adults within minutes, armed with a semi-automatic rifle. He was sentenced to life imprisonment.

During the July 4 weekend in the US, US President Joe Biden called for an end to the “epidemic of gun violence” following a “surge” in murders and a year after the parade shooting.