Principal in Iowa school shooting dies of injuries; put himself in harm's way

The Perry, Iowa principal who put himself in harm’s way to protect students during a school shooting earlier this month died Sunday.

Caldwell Parrish Funeral Home confirmed the death of Dan Marburger after the family announced it on a GoFundMe page.

Marburger was critically injured during the Jan. 4 attack, which began in the school’s cafeteria as students were gathering for breakfast before class. An 11-year-old middle school student was killed in the shooting, and six other people were injured. 

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

News of Marburger’s death was first posted on a GoFundMe page for his family. The post, by Marburger’s wife, Elizabeth, said he died at about 8 a.m. Sunday, and said: “Dan lost his battle. He fought hard and gave us 10 days that we will treasure forever.”

The news that Marburger died triggered a flood of support on the Perry Facebook page with nearly 200 people posting condolences within the first hour after it was posted.

Iowa governor Kim Reynolds ordered all flags in Iowa to be lowered to half-staff on Sunday and to remain that way until sunset on the day of Marburger’s funeral and interment. People, businesses, schools and local governments are also encouraged to fly the flag at half-staff for the same length of time as a sign of respect, the statement said.

In a Facebook post on the night of the shooting, the principal’s daughter, Claire Marburger, called her father a “gentle giant” and said it wasn’t surprising that her father tried to protect his students.

“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 wrote. “That’s just Dad.”

Marburger had been principal since 1995.

An 11-year-old sixth grader, Ahmir Jolliff, was killed in the shooting. The 17-year-old student who opened fire also died of an apparent self-inflicted gunshot.



(AP Photo Byron Houlgrave)