TULALIP – The father of a teen who killed four students and himself last fall at Marysville-Pilchuck High School was arrested March 31 on charges that he illegally purchased the firearm used in the mass shooting, Acting U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes said.
Raymond Lee Fryberg, 42, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the Beretta he purchased in January 2013. Fryberg will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle March 31 at 2 p.m.
Fryberg was the subject of a permanent protection order that prohibits him from possessing firearms. However, he allegedly lied on forms, stating he was not subject to a protection order, according to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
Just four months earlier, Fryberg admitted in tribal court that he had violated the protective order and thus he knew that he was subject to its terms.
“Guns in the hands of people who have demonstrated they will use violence is a dangerous mix that is prohibited by law,” Hayes said. “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 in the case, in 2002 Fryberg’s then-girlfriend asked the Tulalip Tribal Court for an order of protection alleging Fryberg had threatened her and in the past had physically assaulted her by hitting, slapping and/or pulling her hair. The protection order was made permanent in September 2002.
However, 10 years later he was back in tribal court and pleaded “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 in Tulalip and purchased the Beretta, and, over subsequent months, four other firearms, Hayes alleges.
Fryberg filled out forms for the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives and lied, stating that he was not the subject of any court order restraining him from purchasing a firearm, Hayes says.
On Oct. 24, Fryberg’s son, 15-year-old Jaylen, used the Beretta to kill four other students and himself at M-P. Fryberg’s cousin was critically injured but survived.
