TULALIP — The Tulalip Tribes released a statement Wednesday Oct. 29, denouncing the “horrific actions” of a 15-year-old tribal member who killed two classmates and wounded three others in last week’s shooting in the Marysville Pilchuck High School cafeteria.
“As we grieve our losses and pray for the recovery of the injured, the Tulalip Tribes continue to work with our neighbors in the Marysville community in continued unity,” the statement says.
Jaylen Fryberg attacked his friends, including two cousins.
“Parents and children alike are struggling to understand what caused him to act in such a manner. Even though we may never know why, there can be no justification for taking the lives of others. These were the acts of an individual, not a family, not a tribe,” the statement says.
The Tulalip and Marysville communities are working together in “unity and partnership,” the statement says. People are coming together in their grief, and the tribe is there to support those struggling with loss.
“As our communities continue to come together to deal with this tragic event, our thoughts and prayers continue to go out to the families of Zoe Galasso and Gia Soriano.
“We continue to pray for the recovery of Andrew Fryberg, Nate Hatch and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and their families,” the statement says.
In keeping with tribal custom, members are gathering together in their grief.
“The tribe holds up our people who are struggling through times of loss. We are supporting the family of Jaylen Fryberg in their time of loss, but that does not mean we condone his actions,” the statement says.
Two tribal leaders shared similar thoughts with Marysville School District parents Tuesday night.
Les Parks, vice chairman of the Tulalip Tribes Board of Directors, urged unity across the school district. Parks called the school shooting “a heinous crime” but said the tribes will support all of the families of the teens.
“Together, all of our hearts were broken,” he said, referring to both sides of I-5.
Tribal Chairman Herman Williams attended Marysville schools and said his grandchildren and great-grandchildren will follow in his footsteps. For now, the tribes are trying to support and protect the families with teens in hospitals and with funeral preparations, he said.
“This two weeks is going to be hard on all of us,” Williams said.
