At a high school in Perry, Iowa, several people were shot

Multiple individuals were shot inside a small-town Iowa high school early Thursday, forcing students preparing for their first classes after winter break to duck into classrooms, barricade themselves in offices, or flee for an exit, before the accused shooter was found dead.

Authorities in Perry, Iowa, did not indicate how many people were hurt in the incident, although hospitals acknowledged receiving at least three patients.

Investigators believe the suspect died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

US Attorney General Merrick Garland was briefed on the shooting in Washington. The FBI's Omaha-Des Moines office is supporting the Iowa Division of Criminal inquiry in its inquiry.

As of July 2021, Iowa does not require a permit to purchase a handgun or carry a firearm in public, but it does require a background check for anyone purchasing a handgun without a permit.