A 17-year-old student opened fire Thursday at a local high school in Iowa, killing a sixth-grader, authorities said, according to the Associated Press.

The gunman, identified by authorities as Dylan Butler, allegedly opened fire on the first day of school after winter break. AP. The shooting reportedly killed a sixth-grader and injured five others, including the principal. Investigators determined Butler, a student at the school, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, the paper said.

The motive for Butler's actions is still under investigation, but friends and family suggested to The Associated Press that a long history of bullying may have played a role, the newspaper reported. Two of Butler's classmates and her mother reportedly spoke of harassment that had been going on since Butler was in elementary school and had escalated in recent days, with his younger sister also being targeted. (Related: Lawyer claims school knew about Michigan shooter's problems before he went on a rampage)

Breaking news: 17-year-old boy kills 6th grader, injures 5 others in Iowa school shooting, police say https://t.co/xT6XHOPu54

— Associated Press (@AP) January 4, 2024

“He was hurting. He was tired. He was tired of being bullied. He was tired of being harassed,” said student Yesenia Lauder Hall, according to the Associated Press. “Was it a wise idea to shoot up a school? No, God, no.”

According to the Associated Press, the debate over gun control has reignited in the United States following the alleged shooting. Iowa's regulations, which the media cited, have come under scrutiny because they no longer require permits to purchase handguns or carry firearms in public.

The shooting incident has reportedly sparked renewed calls for stricter firearms laws. But the paper says opposition remains, especially in states like Iowa, where gun ownership is deeply entrenched.