The day 17-year-old Dylan Butler opened fire at an Iowa high school, the world waited anxiously for a report of who was injured and worse, who was killed. Among the shooting’s fatalities was Black boy who is remembered for bringing an abundance of joy to his family.
Erica Jolliff said the morning of Jan 4, her son, Ahmir, couldn’t wait to get to school because he missed his friends after a long winter break, per The AP. She said he was so excited that he departed for the school minutes before his sister, a ninth-grader at Perry High School.
Around 7:30 a.m., before the school bell rang to begin classes, police say Butler entered the school property with a small-caliber handgun, pump action shotgun and possibly a “rudimentary” explosive device, per NBC’s report. The investigation tapped into Butler’s social media finding images of him in the school bathroom and documenting his plan.
“I’m f-cking nervous, I’m the bathroom gearing up,” he posted in a “School Massacres” Discord chatroom. Two minutes later, he sent another message.
“There’s a n——- in the bathroom, I need him to leave so I can assemble my guns,” Butler wrote.
Minutes later, the police responded to the high school after being notified that Butler opened fire inside the school cafeteria as students ate their breakfast. Erica said she arrived at the school along with many parents, breathlessly waiting behind the yellow tape and police cars to see if their child evacuated safely. She said she found her daughter but Ahmir was missing.
“I just had a feeling he was still in that building,” she said, via AP’s report.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety said they found Butler with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. The teen injured seven people including two staff members, four students and the school principal who dove in front of students to shield them from the spray of bullets.
They also reported another fatality—a sixth grader who was shot three times who was later identified as 11-year-old Ahmir.
Amir was known as “Smiley” around his house, his mother told reporters. He kept a box of toys out front of his house so that any of the children in the neighborhood could come play. He enjoyed soccer, board games and also music, being a choir singer and tuba player, according to his obituary. He was also known for his compassion, often asking people how their day was with his hand placed on their shoulder, The AP reported.
“Ahmir was not just a bright light; he was a steadfast defender of justice. He stood up against bullies, championing those who needed a voice and ensuring that kindness prevailed,” his memoir reads.
The school honored him with a rock out front, repainted in bright blue. His funeral will take place at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at St. Patrick Catholic Church, according to his obituary.