Iowa Principal Who Risked His Life to Protect Students In School Shooting Has Died

(AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)

The Iowa principal who risked his own life to protect his student during the Perry High School shooting earlier this month has died, according to the Associated Press.

Dan Marburger’s death was confirmed by the Caldwell Parrish Funeral & Crematory following his family announcing his passing on a GoFundMe page. He was critically injured during the violence that morning at Perry High School which took place as students were gathering for breakfast in the cafeteria on January 4th.

An 11-year-old middle school student was also killed and six other individuals were injured. The 17-year-old shooter died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene.

“Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever,” Elizabeth Marburger, the principal’s wife, stated on his GoFundMe page on Sunday per the AP.

Iowa’s Department of Public Safety said a day after the shooting that Marburger “acted selflessly and placed himself in harm’s way in an apparent effort to protect his students.”

Following the announcement of Marburger’s death, the Perry Facebook page was flooded with condolences and tributes to the late principal with many thanking him for his bravery.

“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 Claire Marburger wrote. “That’s just Dad.”

Marburgher, who had been a principal since 1995, reportedly intervened during the shooting and allowed for other teenage students to escape.

Per the AP:

Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation spokesman Mitch Mortvedt said after the shooting that Marburger did some “pretty significant things” to protect others, but didn’t release details. Perry Superintendent Clark Wicks said Marburger was a “hero” who intervened with the teenage gunman so students could escape.