Two days after being shot by good friend Jaylin Fryberg, 14-year-old Gia Soriano's family made the devastating decision to take her off life support. She died at Providence Regional Medical Center Everett and her organs were donated for transplant. Last Friday morning, Oct. 24, Fryberg walked into Maryville-Pilchuk High School's cafeteria in Washington state and shot five of the people closest to him, including his two cousins. Zoe Galasso died at the scene after being shot and Fryberg also died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound.
Three other students remain hospitalized: Andrew Fryberg and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit are in critical condition while Nate Hatch is in serious condition. Of the three who are hospitalized, only Hatch has shown improvement since last Friday.
Family and friends gathered in the high school's gymnasium Sunday for a community meeting intended to bring strength and support to so many actively grieving. Members of the Tulalip Indian Reservation were also on hand to play drums and sing songs of unity.
As of now no one can definitively say what motivated Fryberg's horrific actions last week. There has been speculation based on his social media postings that he was struggling after going through a break-up and that he had also been recently suspended for a fight. Investigators say that unlike typical school shootings with a high body count, this act of violence was targeted as Fryberg walked up to a table of those closest to him and then opened fire.
Maryville-Pilchuk High School's fence is adorned with balloons, flowers and other things left behind by friends and family members of those lost. The school will remain closed this week while counselors and community leaders struggle to help those who are in need of support.
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