![The parents indicated they are working with authorities "to provide answers to the question of why [their] son committed this senseless crime."](https://media.tegna-media.com/assets/WOI/images/a233cf1c-5b1f-441f-bff1-ec8634fd1389/a233cf1c-5b1f-441f-bff1-ec8634fd1389_1920x1080.jpg)
PERRY, Iowa — The parents of the alleged gunman at Perry High School are calling the deadly shooting "a senseless crime."
Jack and Erin Butler, the parents of 17-year-old Dylan Butler, released a statement through their attorney Mark Powell Monday afternoon.
"As the minutes and hours have passed since the horrors our son Dylan inflicted on the victims, the Perry School and the community, we have been trying to make sense out of the senseless. We are simply devastated and our grief for the deceased, his family, the wounded and their families is immeasurable," the statement reads in part.
The Butlers say in the statement they "had no inkling" about what was to come.
"On the way to school Dylan had been discussing with us of future plans and it felt like he was ready to get back to school after Christmas vacation and the start of a new semester," the statement reads in part.
The parents also shared Dylan's sister was at the school at the time of the shooting.
"Perry is our home and beloved community. We would never wish the harm and pain that Dylan’s actions caused on anyone and we could not have imagined that Dylan would carry out such a heinous act. Our family has to mourn and bury our son, and live with this terrible legacy," Jack and Erin said in the statement.
The parents also indicated they are working with authorities "to provide answers to the question of why [their] son committed this senseless crime."
"Through God's grace we hope the answers can be found and that those answers will prevent other young people from harming others," the statement reads.
On Thursday, Jan. 4, police and state officials responded to an active shooter situation at Perry High School and Middle School at around 7:40 a.m. The high school and middle school are combined on one campus.
It was the first day back to school after winter break for students. While classes had not started yet, students and faculty were in the building to eat breakfast and participate in extracurricular activities.
Students told Local 5 and ABC they hid in the school or attempted to flee the building as they heard gunshots.
11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff, a sixth-grader at Perry Middle School, lost his life during the deadly shooting. The Iowa State Medical Examiner said Jolliff died after being shot three times.
Seven other people were injured in the shooting. Of those, four of the injured individuals are students and three are school employees. All of the victims were transported to local hospitals following the shooting.
One of the victims, Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, suffered multiple gunshot wounds and remains in critical condition.