The tragic events that unfolded at Marysville Pilchuck High School on October 24, 2014, continue to reverberate through the Tulalip community and beyond. In the aftermath of the school shooting, which claimed the lives of five students and injured another, the legal proceedings against Raymond Lee Fryberg Jr., the father of the shooter, Jaylen Fryberg, have drawn considerable attention. This article delves into the details of the case against Fryberg Jr., focusing on his conviction for unlawfully possessing firearms and the subsequent sentencing that followed.
On January 11, a somber courtroom in U.S. District Court in Seattle bore witness to the sentencing of Raymond Lee Fryberg Jr., a 42-year-old man from Tulalip, Washington. He was handed a 24-month prison sentence to be served in the medium-security federal prison in Sheridan, Oregon, followed by three years of supervised release. A significant condition of his probation is the prohibition from owning any firearms. Furthermore, Fryberg Jr.’s home and property will be subject to search by a probation officer, ensuring compliance with the terms of his release. The severity of the sentence reflects the gravity of the charges against him, which stemmed from his purchase of firearms, including the handgun used by his son in the devastating school shooting.
Fryberg Jr.’s conviction on six counts of unlawful possession of a firearm followed a four-day jury trial that concluded on September 29. The evidence presented during the trial revealed a troubling pattern of behavior. In 2013 and 2014, Fryberg Jr. acquired a handgun, specifically a Beretta PX4 Storm pistol, along with several hunting rifles from a sporting goods store located in Quil Ceda Village on the Tulalip reservation. What made these purchases illegal was the fact that Fryberg Jr. was on probation at the time, a consequence of violating a domestic violence protection order issued in 2002 by the Tulalip Tribal Court.
The application to purchase these firearms required Fryberg Jr. to answer truthfully whether he was subject to a court-issued protection order. He deliberately marked "no" on the form, a blatant lie that circumvented the legal safeguards designed to prevent individuals with a history of domestic violence from possessing firearms. The protection order had been requested years earlier by Fryberg Jr.’s former girlfriend, with whom he shared a child. This act of deception had far-reaching consequences, ultimately contributing to the tragic events at Marysville Pilchuck High School.
The Beretta PX4 Storm pistol that Fryberg Jr. illegally purchased became the weapon used by his son, Jaylen Fryberg, in the school shooting. On that fateful day, Jaylen, a 15-year-old student, sent suicide threats via text message to an ex-girlfriend before embarking on a rampage that claimed the lives of four of his classmates, two of whom were his cousins. Only one student survived the horrific ordeal.
The investigation into the shooting, conducted by the FBI and the Tulalip Tribes Police Department, quickly turned its attention to the source of the firearm. The link between the gun and Raymond Lee Fryberg Jr.’s illegal purchase was undeniable, leading to his indictment and subsequent conviction.
At his sentencing hearing, Fryberg Jr. attempted to explain his actions, claiming that he did not believe the federal reporting requirement applied to restraining orders issued by the Tribal Court. He announced his intention to appeal the conviction, with his lawyer, John Henry Browne, arguing that Fryberg Jr. was unaware that he was prohibited from owning a gun. Browne further stated that Fryberg Jr. had been granted a concealed weapons permit by the state on January 14, 2013, and that the protection order never surfaced during subsequent background checks conducted by the county sheriff’s office and state fish and game wardens.
This defense highlighted a critical issue: the lack of seamless integration between tribal court systems and state and federal databases. The National American Indian Court Judges Association has pointed out that many protection orders issued by Tribal Courts are not entered into the National Crime Information Center Protection Order File, a federal registry for protection orders.
The association emphasized the sovereign status of the Tulalip Tribes, which creates a separation between tribal and state court systems. This separation can result in the failure to register tribal court protection orders in statewide databases, as was the case with the 2002 order issued against Fryberg Jr. by the Tulalip Tribal Court. In Washington State, the Washington State Police controls access to the protection order registry, and tribal police departments were restricted from accessing the system in 2004 due to the language of state law. This restriction led some tribes in Washington to make arrangements with local county superior courts to have tribal orders entered into the state system.
In response to these systemic issues, the U.S. Justice Department has initiated a pilot program with 10 Native Nations across the country, including the Tulalip Tribes, to ensure that protection orders issued by Tribal Courts can be entered into state and federal registries. This program represents a significant step towards addressing the gap in communication and data sharing between tribal and non-tribal legal systems.
During his sentencing, Fryberg Jr. expressed remorse for his son’s actions, stating, "I wake up with the same broken heart every day. Those kids are a part of my life, too." While Fryberg Jr. was not on trial for the shootings at Marysville Pilchuck High School, the U.S. Attorney’s Office argued that the tragedy was a direct consequence of his illegal possession of firearms. The prosecution further noted that a search warrant executed at the Fryberg home four months after the school shooting revealed five unsecured firearms in a bedroom, accessible to a 14-year-old and two children under the age of six. This discovery underscored the importance of responsible gun ownership, particularly in homes where children are present.
U.S. Attorney Annette L. Hayes, in a statement issued after Fryberg Jr.’s sentencing, emphasized the devastating role that illegal firearm possession played in the community tragedy. The case of the Tulalip School Shooter’s Father serves as a stark reminder of the potential consequences of neglecting gun safety and circumventing legal regulations.
The families of the victims have also taken legal action, filing a claim for damages against the Marysville School District. The lawsuit alleges that school officials failed to act on a substitute teacher’s report that a student had warned of a potential shooting on October 24. The lawsuit also names Fryberg Jr. as a defendant due to his ownership of the gun used in the shooting.
The sentencing of the Tulalip School Shooter’s Father does not bring closure to this horrific event. The legal battles continue, and the community continues to heal. The Tulalip School Shooter’s Father‘s case has highlighted the importance of responsible gun ownership, the need for better communication between tribal and non-tribal legal systems, and the lasting impact of gun violence on communities. While the Tulalip School Shooter’s Father serves his sentence, the memory of the victims and the quest for justice continue. The Tulalip School Shooter’s Father case continues to serve as a cautionary tale. The case of the Tulalip School Shooter’s Father also serves to bring up the topic of gun control.
