During the Perry school shooting on Jan. 4, every second mattered. Three individuals in particular did not waste any time when they put their lives on the line to defend the students and staff of Perry High School, making them heroes, the commissioner of the Iowa Department of Public Safety said during a news conference Friday morning.
Then-assistant principal Brad Snowgren and Perry police officer Micaela Zagar were commended by Commissioner Stephan Bayens for their rapid response to the attack. Bayens also praised Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who was fatally shot while trying to deter the 17-year-old shooter.
During the attack, Dylan Butler also shot and killed sixth-grader Ahmir Jolliff, who was 11. Four students and two school staff members were wounded in the shooting before Butler took his own life.
Bayens said Butler was fascinated with school shootings and wanted notoriety. The swift response from the three heroes bought time for more students and staff to reach safety, Bayens said.
Principal Dan Marburger recognized as ‘an absolute hero’
As he was shot, Marburger called out Butler’s name multiple times, telling him to stop or asking him to talk. The action of calling Butler by his name ultimately saved lives that day, Bayens said.
“It is not so much the empathy that Marburger showed toward the shooter,” Bayens said. “But every time he called that name out, the shooter heard his name and he looked and turned toward the sound. And when he did that, it diverted his attention from who (he) was intending to shoot.”
‘Absolute hero:’Perry principal distracted school shooter, saved lives, authorities say
Marburger’s actions allowed students to exit the commons area of the school and into safety, Bayens said.
“Each time Principal Marburger called that name out and diverted his attention, it bought those students another two seconds, another three seconds, another five seconds,” Bayens said. “And when we are talking about school shootings, those sorts of seconds matter. And in this case they did matter.”
The shots Marburger sustained responding to the shooter were fatal, killing him 10 days after the attack. Marburger served in the Perry district for nearly 30 years.
“He was an absolute hero,” Bayens said.
Brad Snowgren’s action was ‘heroic’ during the Perry school shooting
Snowgren took it upon himself to activate the school safety radio within the first 10 seconds of the shooting. Turning on the radio alerted the Dallas County Sheriff’s Office of the threat. Bayens described the act as “intentional” and “heroic.”
“I can tell you he was actively avoiding gunfire in trying to make his way to the principal’s office to hit that button,” Bayens said Friday.
In April, the Perry school board named Snowgren principal of Perry High School effective July 1. Since the shooting, Snowgren has served as interim principal, overseeing daily operations of the high school and assisting in extracurricular activities.
Perry Police Officer Micaela Zagar ‘did not wait’
Perry police officer Micaela Zagar entered the high school just two minutes and 59 seconds after the safety radio was activated, Bayens said. Zagar entered the building with no backup and just a handgun for defense.
“She did not wait for a supervisor,” Bayens said. “She was through those doors and she was there to protect the kids inside. That is exactly what we expect our law enforcement to do, and the community of Perry should be extremely proud of Micaela Zagar. She did not wait. She did not pause. She did not take account of her own safety. She went head-long in to try to find that threat and did exactly what she was supposed to do.”
Zagar, who Bayens described as “a lion,” was honored with the Iowa Medal of Merit, along with three other law enforcement officials who responded to the Jan. 4 Perry school shooting.
Kate Kealey is a general assignment reporter for the Des Moines Register. Reach her at kkealey@registermedia.com or follow her on Twitter at @Kkealey17.