Vigil for Marysville shooting victims: ‘We are not broken’

MARYSVILLE — In the darkened auditorium at Marysville Pilchuck High School on Tuesday night, faith leaders from around Snohomish County offered prayers and words of support for those whose lives were changed Oct. 24.

Four months ago a freshman brought a gun into one of the school’s cafeterias. Just after 10:30 a.m. he stood up at the table where his friends were eating lunch. The Tulalip boy opened fire. His bullets hit five teens, and then he turned the gun on himself.

Killed were Andrew Fryberg, 15, and Zoe Galasso, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit and Gia Soriano, all 14. Nate Hatch, 15, is the only survivor.

“This did happen to us. Some of our children, five of them, died in violence. We are left looking for a foundation to stand on,” said the Rev. Dwight Lewis of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marysville.

More than 100 people gathered Tuesday night for an interfaith candlelight vigil to mark the four months since the deadly shootings.

Mayor Jon Nehring and Tulalip Tribes Vice Chairman Les Parks welcomed the crowd and praised both communities for uniting in the face of tragedy.

This is not the time to ask why the shooting happened, Parks said.

“We’ll never understand why,” he said. “We’ve come here to cry together, grieve together and heal together and pray together.”

The service was opened with a traditional Native American drum song. Natosha Gobin offered a prayer in Lushootseed, a Coast Salish language.

“We are stronger together. We are not broken,” she said.

The vigil was organized by the Rev. Terry Kyllo of St. Philip’s Episcopal Church in Marysville and the Rev. Pat Twohy, a Roman Catholic priest who ministered to the Tulalip Tribes for two decades. Kyllo is part of the community team focused on recovery efforts.

Mary Schoenfeldt was in the audience Tuesday night. She was hired to direct the recovery efforts in the Marysville School District. She was heartened by the turnout.

“Recovery is an individual journey. It doesn’t have to be a lonely journey, though,” she said. “The more unity we see the more we know we are not alone in this.”

Superintendent Becky Berg was humbled by the support from the faith community and those in the audience.

“We can’t fix what happened on Oct. 24,” she said. “We can define ourselves by how we move forward.”

Pastor Kim Reynolds of Hillside Church became emotional as she told the crowd that her daughter was in the cafeteria that day. She read from Psalm 61 — asking God for His shelter in times of struggle.

Jafer Sidiqui with American Muslims of Puget Sound told the crowd to lean on each other, not to hide their grief and sorrow.

Others will help carry your burdens, Sidiqui said.

Diana Hefley: 425-339-3463; hefley@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @dianahefley.

Learn more

For more information about recovery efforts and resources for Marysville families and students, go to www.mtunited.org.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Local News

A firefighter stands in silence before a panel bearing the names of L. John Regelbrugge and Kris Regelbrugge during the ten-year remembrance of the Oso landslide on Friday, March 22, 2024, at the Oso Landslide Memorial in Oso, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
‘Flood of emotions’ as Oso Landslide Memorial opens on 10th anniversary

Friends, family and first responders held a moment of silence at 10:37 a.m. at the new 2-acre memorial off Highway 530.

Julie Petersen poses for a photo with images of her sister Christina Jefferds and Jefferds’ grand daughter Sanoah Violet Huestis next to a memorial for Sanoah at her home on March 20, 2024 in Arlington, Washington. Peterson wears her sister’s favorite color and one of her bangles. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
‘It just all came down’: An oral history of the Oso mudslide

Ten years later, The Daily Herald spoke with dozens of people — first responders, family, survivors — touched by the deadliest slide in U.S. history.

Victims of the Oso mudslide on March 22, 2014. (Courtesy photos)
Remembering the 43 lives lost in the Oso mudslide

The slide wiped out a neighborhood along Highway 530 in 2014. “Even though you feel like you’re alone in your grief, you’re really not.”

Director Lucia Schmit, right, and Deputy Director Dara Salmon inside the Snohomish County Department of Emergency Management on Friday, March 8, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
How Oso slide changed local emergency response ‘on virtually every level’

“In a decade, we have just really, really advanced,” through hard-earned lessons applied to the pandemic, floods and opioids.

Ron and Gail Thompson at their home on Monday, March 4, 2024 in Oso, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
In shadow of scarred Oso hillside, mudslide’s wounds still feel fresh

Locals reflected on living with grief and finding meaning in the wake of a catastrophe “nothing like you can ever imagine” in 2014.

Everett mall renderings from Brixton Capital. (Photo provided by the City of Everett)
Topgolf at the Everett Mall? Mayor’s hint still unconfirmed

After Cassie Franklin’s annual address, rumors circled about what “top” entertainment tenant could be landing at Everett Mall.

Everett
Everett man sentenced to 3 years of probation for mutilating animals

In 2022, neighbors reported Blayne Perez, 35, was shooting and torturing wildlife in north Everett.

Dorothy Crossman rides up on her bike to turn in her ballot  on Tuesday, Aug. 1, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Everett leaders plan to ask voters for property tax increase

City officials will spend weeks hammering out details of a ballot measure, as Everett faces a $12.6 million deficit.

Starbucks employee Zach Gabelein outside of the Mill Creek location where he works on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024 in Mill Creek, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mill Creek Starbucks votes 21-1 to form union

“We obviously are kind of on the high of that win,” store bargaining delegate Zach Gabelein said.

Lynnwood police respond to a collision on highway 99 at 176 street SW. (Photo provided by Lynnwood Police)
Police: Teen in stolen car flees cops, causes crash in Lynnwood

The crash blocked traffic for over an hour at 176th Street SW. The boy, 16, was arrested on felony warrants.

The view of Mountain Loop Mine out the window of a second floor classroom at Fairmount Elementary on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
County: Everett mining yard violated order to halt work next to school

At least 10 reports accused OMA Construction of violating a stop-work order next to Fairmount Elementary. A judge will hear the case.

Imagine Children's Museum's incoming CEO, Elizabeth "Elee" Wood. (Photo provided by Imagine Children's Museum)
Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett to welcome new CEO

Nancy Johnson, who has led Imagine Children’s Museum in Everett for 25 years, will retire in June.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.