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Washington School Shooter Invited Victims to Lunch

by Kate Ward

Disturbing details surrounding the lethal school shooting at Washington's Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Friday continue to be released by authorities, but perhaps the most disturbing fact surrounding the tragedy is we still don't know the why. That why being: Why Jaylen Fryberg, a friendly teenager by all accounts who was popular enough to be crowned homecoming prince, would open fire in his school cafeteria, killing two and wounding three others before killing himself.

Just hours after officials at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett confirmed that 14-year-old Gia Soriano had died days following the shooting (fellow 14-year-old Zoe Glasso passed away from her injuries Friday), Snohomish County Sheriff Ty Trenary met with reporters to update the public on the investigation. And though he shed light one some questions lingering in the public's mind since Friday — the gun Fryberg used was a 40-caliber beretta which was purchased legally by a family member — there was one he definitively could not answer. "I don’t know that the 'why' is something we can provide," he told reporters Monday.

Not that people won't attempt to find one. According to reports, Fryberg had fought with friends about his relationship with a fellow female student at the school, posting tweets that pointed to a disturbed mental state.

But it's easy to speculate when there's so little information. And authorities are searching for more, telling reporters that the investigation could last months.

One new revelation, however, came out of Trenary's press conference Monday. According to the Sheriff, officials have learned that "the shooter had arranged to meet with friends" prior to the shooting. Proving they're closely investigating Fryberg's electronic footprint, Trenary confirmed that the shooter had invited friends via text message.

The story remains a grim one, with only flashes of heroism from the shooting available to balance the sad news. Marysville-Pilchuck High School teacher Megan Silberberger has attracted deserved praise for her role in saving students, having confronted Fryberg head on. Said one student, Erick Cervantes, who witnessed the shooting via CNN,

She just grabbed his arm ... She's the one that intercepted him with the gun. He tried either reloading or tried aiming at her.

Silberberger, who has refused offers to be interviewed by the press, released the following statement:

I am thankful and grateful for the support from everyone. At this time I am requesting privacy.

Three students remain hospitalized with injuries: Fryberg's 15-year-old cousin Andrew Fryberg and 14-year-old Shaylee Chuckulnaskit are still in critical condition, while 14-year-old Nate Hatch's condition has been upgraded to satisfactory.