On the morning of January 4, 2024, 11-year-old Ahmir Jolliff was eager to return to school after the winter break. A sixth-grade student at Perry Middle School, he was known for his infectious smile and cheerful personality, which earned him the nickname "Smiley". That morning, he left for school just a few minutes ahead of his mother and older sister.
The school day had not yet begun when a 17-year-old student, Dylan Butler, opened fire in the Perry High School cafeteria, an area where
students from different grades gathered for breakfast. Ahmir was in the cafeteria at the time and was shot three times. In addition to Ahmir, several other students and school staff members were wounded during the shooting, including the high school principal.
The first reports of the shooting reached police at 7:37 a.m., and officers were on the scene within minutes. They discovered students and faculty either sheltering in place or fleeing the building. The shooter, Dylan Butler, was found to have died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Ahmir s death was ruled a homicide caused by multiple gunshot wounds. No arrests were made in connection with the shooting as the lone suspect took his own life. Investigators found a shotgun, a handgun, and a rudimentary improvised explosive device with the shooter. The motive for the shooting remains under investigation, though some reports indicated the shooter had been the subject of bullying.
