WASHINGTON – The father of a teen who killed four students and himself last year at Marysville-Pilchuck High School was arrested Tuesday on charges that he illegally purchased the firearm used in the mass shooting, authorities said.
Raymond Lee Fryberg, 42, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the purchase of a Beretta, model PX4 Storm in January 2013.
He is facing up to 10 years in prison if he is convicted, authorities stated.
On October 25, 2014, Fryberg’s son, 15-year-old Jaylen Fryberg, used the illegally purchased Beretta to kill four other students and himself at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Marysville, Washington.
The teens who died were Gia Soriano, Zoe Galasso and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, all 14, and Andrew Fryberg, 15. All were shot in the head. Nate Hatch, 15, was shot in the jaw. Andrew Fryberg and Hatch are Jaylen Fryberg’s cousins. Fryberg’s cousin was critically injured but survived.
When he bought the weapon, Raymond Fryberg had a permanent protection order that prohibited him from possessing firearms, officials said. However, Fryberg lied on forms at the time of the purchase stating he was not subject to a protection order, authorities said.
In fact, just four months earlier, officials allege that Fryberg admitted in tribal court that he had violated the protective order, officials said.
“Guns in the hands of people who have demonstrated they will use violence is a dangerous mix that is prohibited by law,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes. “Our office has a long history of working with our federal, state, local and tribal law enforcement partners across Western Washington to prosecute those who illegally possess firearms. This case is part of that effort and a reminder that we are united in our commitment to get firearms out of the hands of those who pose the greatest risk to our communities.”
According to the criminal complaint filed in the case in 2002, these are the facts and circumstances surrounding this case:
- Fryberg’s then-girlfriend asked the Tulalip Tribal Court for an order of protection alleging Fryberg had recently threatened her and had in the past physically assaulted her by hitting, slapping and pulling her hair.
- The protection order was made permanent in September 2002 and had no expiration date.
- In September 2012, Fryberg was back in tribal court and plead “no contest” to violating the protection order.
- Fryberg was fined and placed on probation for one year.
- Less than four months later, Fryberg went to Cabela’s Sporting Goods store on the Tulalip reservation and purchased the Beretta, and, over subsequent months, four other firearms.
- Fryberg filled out forms for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives or ATF stating that he was not under any court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or the child of a partner.
- The form states that anyone under this order is prohibited from purchasing a firearm. The complaint alleges Fryberg lied when he filled out the form.