2014 Maryville Pilchuck High School Shooting

On October 24, 2014, a tragic shooting occurred at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Washington state. Fifteen-year-old freshman Jaylen Fryberg opened fire in the school cafeteria, killing four students and injuring another before taking his own life.

Prior to the shooting, Fryberg invited several friends to meet him for lunch via text message. At approximately 10:39 a.m., he entered the cafeteria and approached the table where his friends were seated. After a brief verbal exchange, he produced a .40-caliber Beretta Px4 Storm handgun and began shooting, targeting his close friends and cousins. Witnesses described Fryberg as having a "blank stare" during the attack.

Jaylen Fryberg was a popular student, athlete, and member of the Tulalip Tribes. He had recently been named the school's freshman homecoming prince. In the days leading up to the shooting, Fryberg exhibited signs of emotional distress, including posting troubling messages on social media. Minutes before the attack, he sent a text message to his family expressing his intentions.

The handgun used in the shooting was legally purchased by Fryberg's father, Raymond Fryberg, despite a 2002 domestic violence protection order that should have prohibited him from owning firearms. In 2015, Raymond was convicted of six counts of illegal firearm possession and sentenced to two years in prison.

In 2017, the families of the victims reached an $18 million settlement with the Marysville School District. The lawsuit alleged that a substitute teacher failed to report concerning behavior by Fryberg prior to the shooting, which could have potentially prevented the tragedy.

The school community honored the victims by placing a memorial at the site of the shooting. On the 10th anniversary in 2024, a memorial walk was held to remember those lost.