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Police said that the gunman responsible for the Washington state high school shooting arranged to meet with his friends at lunch Friday via text message. VPC
A memorial with flowers, balloons and words of remembrance is growing outside Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Monday, Oct. 27, 2014.(Photo: KING-TV, Seattle-Tacoma)
EVERETT, Wash. — Police said that the gunman responsible for the Washington state high school shooting arranged to meet with his friends at lunch Friday via text message.
Jaylen Fryberg sent text messages to his friends at Marysville-Pilchuck High School inviting them to lunch, said Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary at a news conference Monday. He pulled out a handgun in the cafeteria and started shooting.
"Witnesses confirm that the five victims were at the table when the shooter opened fire, striking the victims before turning the gun on himself," said Trenary.
The Snohomish County Medical Examiner ruled Fryberg's death a suicide Monday. There had been speculation that Fryberg shot himself accidentally when a teacher tried to stop him, but Trenary said the investigation found there was no physical contact between the teacher and gunman.
On Friday, Fryberg walked up to the table and shot five young people in the high school's cafeteria before turning the gun on himself.
One student died Friday; another died of her injuries Sunday night.
Zoe Galasso's family confirmed that she was found dead at the school.
Gia Soriano, 14, was one of four critically injured teens taken to a local hospital Friday after the popular high school freshman opened fire inside the cafeteria.
Three other students remain at local hospitals.
Shaylee Chuckulnaskit remains in critical condition, said Joanne Roberts of the Providence Regional Medical Center Everett.
Of the wounded students, only 14-year-old Nate Hatch showed improvement. He was upgraded to satisfactory condition Monday at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle. Andrew Fryberg, 15, is in critical condition in intensive care.
Both Nate and Andrew are cousins of Jaylen Fryberg, whom other students described as a popular football player who had just been named homecoming prince. He was a member of a prominent Native American family from the Tulalip Tribes.
Nate's family said Monday that he has been talking and walking inside the hospital.
On Sunday and Monday, Nate updated his social media accounts. On Facebook he posted "Greatful to be alive." On Twitter, he sent a message of forgiveness:
"I love you and I forgive you Jaylen rest in peace."
Despite his continued improvement, Nate acknowledged his suffering.
"Worst pain I've ever felt in my life," his Twitter post read.
And struggling with the loss of his friend, Gia, Nate retweeted someone else who wrote the words: "I love you Gia."
Nate is expected to be in the hospital for several days and his family said that the student athlete will no longer be able to play sports. He is expected to have surgery Thursday on his jaw, which was hit by gunfire.
Trenary added that the weapon used in the shooting, a .40 caliber Beretta, was legally purchased and registered to a family member.
"We are trying to determine how exactly the shooter obtained the weapon prior to Friday's shooting," Trenary said.
Detectives are digging through reams of text messages, phone and social media records as part of an investigation that could take months, Trenary said.
"The question everybody wants is, 'Why?' " Trenary said. "I don't know that the 'why' is something we can provide."
Fryberg seemed happy although he also was upset about a girl, friends said. His Twitter feed was recently full of vague, anguished postings, like "It won't last … It'll never last," and "I should have listened. … You were right … The whole time you were right."
Contributing: Alex Rozier, KING-TV, Seattle-Tacoma; The Associated Press
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