Principal Wounded In Perry School Shooting Has Died

As the community of Perry, Iowa continues to recover from a shooting at the high school earlier this month, those efforts were dealt a huge blow this weekend.

Perry High School Principal Dan Marburger, who was critically wounded in the January 4th shooting, died early Sunday morning, according to the Des Moines Register. His wife Elizabeth posted the update on a GoFundMe page set up for the family.

At 8:00 am, Jan (14), Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.

The Register reports that Iowa Governor Kim Reynolds has ordered all flags at state facilities to be lowered to half-staff in honor of Marburger, and encouraged others to do the same. The Perry Community School District also posted a message on Facebook offering condolences to the Marburger family.

Principal Marburger has been widely praised for his heroic acts on the day of the shooting. The Register reports several accounts that before he was shot, he attempted to distract the shooter, giving other students time to escape the school cafeteria when the shootings happened during breakfast. Governor Reynolds stated that Marburger "courageously put himself in harm’s way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them. He will forever be remembered for his selfless and heroic actions."

No funeral arrangements have been announced. Principal Dan Marburger was 56 years old. A student from Perry Middle School also died in the attack. The Register reports that the funeral for Ahmir Jolliff was held Thursday in Perry.