Father of Marysville School Shooter Charged with Illegal Firearms Possession

The father of a teen who killed four students and himself last year at Marysville-Pilchuck High School was arrested today on charges that he illegally purchased the firearm used in the mass shooting, announced Acting United States Attorney Annette L. Hayes.  RAYMOND LEE FRYBERG, 42, is charged with unlawful possession of a firearm by a prohibited person in connection with the Beretta, model PX4 Storm, he purchased in January 2013.  At the time of the purchase FRYBERG was the subject of a permanent protection order that prohibits him from possessing firearms.  However, FRYBERG lied on forms at the time of the purchase stating he was not subject to a protection order.  In fact, 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.  FRYBERG will appear in U.S. District Court in Seattle today, March 31, 2015, at 2:00 PM.

“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, 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.  The complaint alleges FRYBERG lied when he filled out the form.

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.

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