4th victim of Marysville school shooting dies; lone survivor tweets heart-wrenching farewell

SEATTLE -- Fifteen-year-old Andrew Fryberg on Friday night became the fourth victim of the Marysville-Pilchuck High School shooting to die from his injuries.

"Unfortunately, Andrew Fryberg, 15, passed away this evening, November 7, at Harborview Medical Center," the hospital announced Friday night.

Andrew had been in critical condition at Harborview with a gunshot wound to the head ever since the Oct. 24 shooting.

The lone survivor, Nate Hatch, 14, who was shot in the jaw that day, was discharged from Harborview Medical Center Thursday and returned home to his family.

He tweeted this emotional farewell Friday night after learning of Andrew Fryberg's death:





Harborview issued this statement on behalf of Andrew's family:

"We express our thanks for the amazing support from the community, as well as from everyone around the world that have been praying for us all through this tragic event.

 "We also want to say a special thank you to all the amazing staff that have cared for our son and brother here in the pediatric intensive care unit at Harborview. 

 "Our family is overwhelmed with the love and care that has been provided to our loved one during this time and you all will forever hold a special place in our hearts.

 "But we also ask that you respect our privacy at this time of our deep loss. "

On Oct. 24, freshman Jaylen Fryberg, 14, stood up in the high school cafeteria with a handgun and opened fire on five of his classmates before killing himself. Four of those victims -- Gia Soriano, Zoe Galasso , Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, all 14, and Andrew Fryberg -- have all died.

(The shooter's suicide that day leaves the total death toll at five.)

Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary  said Jaylen Fryberg lured his friends into the Marysville-Pilchuck High School cafeteria with the intention of killing them.

Trenary said the shooter sent the five victims text messages asking them to meet him just before the shooting.

“The five people were targeted, were invited to the table,” said Trenary.

Investigators said the weapon was a .40 caliber Beretta handgun. The gun was legally purchased, registered, and owned by a family member. It is unclear how Fryberg obtained the weapon.

Investigators are still working on a motive for the shooting.

“I think the question that everybody wants is ‘why’ and candidly I don’t know that the why is going to be something we can provide,” said Trenary.

Due to the complexity of the case, the investigation will take months, he said.