MARTHA BELLISLE
Associated Press
TULALIP, Wash. (AP) — Hundreds of people packed a recreation center on the Tulalip Indian reservation Thursday for a memorial service for the 15-year-old gunman in a deadly Washington state school shooting.
Jaylen Fryberg was a homecoming prince from a prominent tribal family.
Tribal police and others wore arm bands that read “In Loving Memory” of Fryberg. Inside the recreation center, a gym was filled with hundreds of mourners, and tribal members chanted and played drums. Earlier this week, the tribe released a statement condemning Fryberg’s “horrific actions,” but adding it was their custom to come together in times of grief.
“We are supporting the family of Jaylen Fryberg in their time of loss, but that does not mean we condone his actions,” the tribe said.
On Friday, Fryberg pulled out a handgun in the Marysville-Pilchuck High School cafeteria north of Seattle and started shooting.
The victims were Zoe R. Galasso, 14, who died at the scene; Gia Soriano, 14, who died at a hospital Sunday night; Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, 14, who is in critical condition; and Fryberg’s cousins, Nate Hatch, 14, and Andrew Fryberg, 15. Andrew Fryberg is in critical condition, while Hatch had surgery Thursday to repair his jaw. He’s listed in satisfactory condition.
At Thursday’s memorial for Jaylen Fryberg, which included a slide show of pictures from his life, some people wore white ribbons with photos of the two girls killed in the shooting. A large meal was offered for mourners at the service.
After a procession of drummers and the family walked a circle around the inside of the gym with the casket, they walked outside and loaded it on to the back of a pickup truck. The family climbed in on either side and drove about a half mile up the road to a cemetery.
Also on Thursday, authorities also released recordings of the police radio communications as officers responded to the shooting last Friday. Authorities have not yet released 911 calls during the shooting.
“I just got information of a possible shooting at the high school cafeteria,” an operator says.
Moments later, an officer responds back, “It is confirmed. We have shooter. We have about five down.”
The radio recordings show more officers continue going into the school.
“Is the shooter down?” asks the operator.
“Affirmative,” responds an officer
“Shooter is down,” the operator says.
The Daily Herald reported that the funeral for Galasso is set for this weekend. There was no word on a service for Soriano.
Officials say the investigation into the shooting will be lengthy to ensure any information released is accurate.
Snohomish County Prosecutor Mark Roe met with detectives Tuesday and said they need to be given time for a painstaking investigation.
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