Iowa high school principal who tried to distract shooter dies, governor says - The Washington Post

The principal of an Iowa high school who was shot while trying to distract a gunman at the campus has died, Gov. Kim Reynolds announced Sunday.

Dan Marburger, principal of Perry High School, “courageously put himself in harm’s way to protect his students, and ultimately gave his own life to save them,” Reynolds (R) wrote in a statement.

Marburger, 56, had been in critical condition after he was shot at the school on Jan. 4. That morning, Dylan Butler, 17, opened fire before classes, killing a sixth-grader and injuring seven other people, including Marburger.

Butler began his rampage while the school’s breakfast program was going on, using a shotgun and a small-caliber handgun, according to authorities. Officers said they arrived to find students and faculty fleeing the scene and taking shelter. The Perry community rallied in the aftermath of the shooting, holding a vigil and calling for support to the injured.

According to his daughter, Marburger had tried to talk with Butler and “distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria.”

“It is absolutely zero surprise to hear he tried to approach and talk Dylan down and distract him long enough for some students to get out of the cafeteria,” Claire Marburger wrote in a Facebook post after the shooting. “That’s just Dad.”

In another Facebook post Sunday evening sharing news of her father’s death, Claire said he “inspired us to be better people everyday,” passing many lessons onto his five kids, including the importance of education.

In the months leading up to Perry High School graduations, Dan Marburger could be seen practicing the pronunciation of students’ names to ensure that all families would hear their child’s name announced correctly as they crossed the stage.

“Dad took no greater pride than seeing the kids he harped on and held up tough expectations for, walk across the stage with a diploma in hand,” Claire Marburger wrote. “Another thing Dad taught us was how to love. How to love each other, how to love our parents, how to love our spouses and significant others, how to love our kids and grandkids. And it comes down to one word, selflessly.”

Claire added that her father showed his love on a daily basis through “the little things like calling me Clairey or sending me a random amount on Venmo saying ‘gas’ or ‘lunch on me.’”

He “was an incredible man, educator, husband, dad, grandpa. A person I aspire to be and hope to make proud every day. He will be greatly missed,” she said.

Within less than an hour of Claire’s Facebook post, nearly one hundred comments poured in to express condolences. A GoFundMe for the Marburger family, which launched while Dan Marburger was in the hospital, has amassed more than $130,000 in donations.

In Marburger’s honor, all flags in Iowa will fly at half-staff from Sunday until sunset on the day of his funeral and interment, Reynolds said.

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Iowa high school principal who tried to distract shooter dies, governor says - The Washington Post
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