Father of Marysville School Shooter Convicted of Illegal Firearms Possession

The father of a teen who killed four students and himself last year at Marysville-Pilchuck High School was convicted today of six counts of illegal firearms possession, announced United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  RAYMOND LEE FRYBERG, 42, was convicted following a four day jury trial.  The jury deliberated one day before reaching its verdict.  Sentencing on the conviction is scheduled for January 11, 2016 before the Honorable Judge James L. Robart.

According to records filed in the case and testimony at trial, in 2002, 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/or 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 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 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 (ATF) stating that he was not the subject of any court order restraining him from harassing, stalking, or threatening an intimate partner or the child of a partner.  The form states that anyone subject to such an order is prohibited from purchasing a firearm.

According to testimony at trial, FRYBERG purchased a Beretta, Model PX4 Storm, in January, 2013.  On October 24, 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. Fryberg’s cousin was critically injured but survived.  Jurors were not told of the connection between FRYBERG’s weapons and the school shooting.

The case was investigated by the FBI, and the Tulalip Tribal Police Department.  The case is being prosecuted by Assistant United States Attorneys Ye-Ting Woo and Bruce Miyake.