Vehicles are seen in a parking zone outdoors of Perry High School in Iowa the day after a capturing on Jan. 4, 2024. Dan Marburger, the varsity’s principal who put himself in hurt’s method to defend college students throughout the capturing, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, a funeral residence confirmed after Marburger’s after the household introduced it on a GoFundMe web page.

Charlie Neibergall/AP

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Charlie Neibergall/AP

Vehicles are seen in a parking zone outdoors of Perry High School in Iowa the day after a capturing on Jan. 4, 2024. Dan Marburger, the varsity’s principal who put himself in hurt’s method to defend college students throughout the capturing, died Sunday, Jan. 14, 2024, a funeral residence confirmed after Marburger’s after the household introduced it on a GoFundMe web page.

Charlie Neibergall/AP

DES MOINES, Iowa — An Iowa principal who put himself in hurt’s method to defend college students throughout a faculty capturing earlier this month died Sunday, a funeral residence confirmed.

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home & Crematory confirmed the demise of Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger after the family announced it on a GoFundMe web page.

Marburger was critically injured throughout the Jan. 4 assault, which started within the college’s cafeteria as college students have been gathering for breakfast earlier than class. An 11-year-old center college scholar was killed within the capturing, and 6 different individuals have been injured. The 17-year-old scholar who opened fireplace additionally died of an obvious self-inflicted gunshot.

The day after the capturing, the state Department of Public Safety mentioned Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”

News of Marburger’s demise was first posted on a GoFundMe web page for his household. The publish, by Marburger’s spouse, Elizabeth, mentioned he died at about 8 a.m. Sunday, and mentioned: “Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.”

The information that Marburger died triggered a flood of assist on the Perry Facebook web page with almost 200 individuals posting condolences throughout the first hour after it was posted.

In a Facebook publish on the night time of the capturing, the principal’s daughter, Claire Marburger, referred to as her father a “gentle giant” and mentioned it wasn’t stunning that her father tried to guard his college students.

“As I heard of a gunman, I instantly had a feeling my Dad would be a victim as he would put himself in harms way for the benefit of the kids and his staff,” his daughter wrote. “That’s just Dad.”

Marburger had been principal since 1995.

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt mentioned after the capturing that Marburger did some “pretty significant things” to guard others, however did not launch particulars. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks mentioned Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with the teenage gunman so college students might escape.

An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed within the capturing. Authorities mentioned he was shot thrice.

The capturing occurred simply after 7:30 a.m. on Jan. 4, shortly earlier than courses have been set to start on the primary day again after winter break. Mortvedt mentioned the capturing began within the cafeteria, the place college students from a number of grades have been consuming breakfast, then spilled outdoors the cafeteria however was contained to the north finish of the varsity.

Authorities mentioned the suspect, recognized as Dylan Butler, had a pump-action shotgun and a small-caliber handgun. Mortvedt informed The Associated Press that authorities additionally discovered a “pretty rudimentary” improvised explosive system in Butler’s belongings, and that specialists suggested “it was something that they needed to disarm.” It was rendered protected.