Survivor of Marysville school shootings arrives home

TULALIP — Nate Hatch’s brief wave meant everything.

It meant he survived. It meant he was home.

The 14-year-old Tulalip boy was released from a Seattle hospital Thursday, nearly two weeks after the Oct. 24 shooting at Marysville Pilchuck High School. Tulalip police drove Nate back to the reservation, where more than 200 people gathered along Marine Drive to cheer and show support.

They shouted his name, a celebration of healing that Nate has come to symbolize.

The front passenger window of the black sport utility vehicle was rolled down just a few inches. The boy raised his left hand and waved.

“Truly, we want Nate to know he’s not alone in all this,” Tulalip Tribal Councilwoman Theresa Sheldon said.

As people on the reservation celebrated the return of a wounded son Thursday they also prepared to bury a beloved daughter. The school violence ended four young lives.

A funeral procession for Shaylee “Shay” Adelle Chuckulnaskit, 14, passed the same intersection on the reservation later in the afternoon, bringing her body to the Don Hatch Jr. Youth Center for an evening interfaith service. An obituary in The Daily Herald described Shay as an outgoing and confident athlete, with a silly side, a deep faith and a fighter’s spirit. Final ceremonies will take place Friday, and will conclude with her burial at Mission Beach Cemetery.

Zoe Raine Galasso and Gia Christine Soriano also were killed.

Andrew Fryberg, 15, remained in critical condition Thursday in intensive care at Harborview Medical Center in Seattle, where he’s been since the day of the shooting.

Nate was treated for a gunshot wound to the jaw. On Thursday, the Hatch family released a statement through Harborview, thanking the community for support and repeating a request for privacy while he recovers.

“We are grateful for the top-notch care Nate received from the team at Harborview Medical Center,” they wrote. “Our hearts and prayers go out to all the families who have been affected by this horrific tragedy.”

Nate was driven past the well-wishers on Marine Drive just before 1 p.m.

Those who gathered hoisted hand-painted posters and banners, despite the wind and rain. Young people donned Marysville Pilchuck T-shirts.

They were joined by visitors from the Red Lake Indian Reservation in Minnesota, where a school shooting occurred in 2005. The Little Thunderbirds, a family drum and dance group from Red Lake, sang pow wow songs for Nate, honoring his return. The group had traveled to the area to present a Native American dreamcatcher to the Marysville School District on Monday.

The dreamcatcher originally was given to Columbine High School near Denver and since has traveled to the Red Lake reservation, Sandy Hook Elementary in Connecticut, and now Marysville Pilchuck.

The dreamcatcher is symbolic for those communities, linked by senseless violence and shared grief.

Those who awaited Nate’s arrival Thursday spoke of hope and healing.

“We are all excited that he is coming home,” said Tony Hatch, a Tulalip tribal member and Marysville Pilchuck assistant wrestling coach. “A lot of prayers have been answered. He’s still got a long way to go, but this is a glad day.”

The coaches would like Nate to return to the wrestling team next year, said Hatch, who helped organize the homecoming using email and Facebook. People who couldn’t come asked others to “scream louder for them,” he said.

“We wanted to let him know how much he is loved,” Hatch said.

Teachers also had walked over from nearby Quil Ceda Elementary.

Football teammate Kaleb Gobin, 16, held up a sign that read “Welcome home Nate.”

“I hope he heals up fast, and well,” Gobin said. “I hope everyone can come together now for healing.”

Funeral plans for Gia have not been made public. A memorial for Zoe was held last weekend.

The funeral for the shooter, 15-year-old Jaylen Fryberg, was held on the reservation last week.

Now is a time for people to stand together, said Les Parks, the tribal vice chairman.

“For both the Tulalip and Marysville communities,” Parks said. “One community. Our community.”

Rikki King: 425-339-3449; rking@heraldnet.com.

Talk to us

More in Local News

The Safeway store at 4128 Rucker Ave., on Wednesday, Nov. 29, 2023, in Everett, Washington. (Mike Henneke / The Herald)
Police: Everett Safeway ex-worker accused of trying to ram customers

The man, 40, was showing symptoms of psychosis, police wrote. Officers found him circling another parking lot off Mukilteo Boulevard.

Lynnwood Mayor Christine Frizzell speaks during a ribbon cutting ceremony to celebrate the completion of the 196th ST SW Improvement Project near the 196th and 44th Ave West intersection in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Jarred by anti-Semitic rants, Lynnwood council approves tax increase

Three people spewed hate speech via Zoom at a council meeting this week. Then, the council moved on to regular business.

The county canvassing board certifies election results at the Snohomish County Auditor’s Office in Everett, Washington on Tuesday, Nov. 28, 2023.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
General election results stamped official by canvassing board

In Snohomish County, one hand recount will take place. Officials said ballot challenges were down this year.

The Days Inn on Everett Mall Way, which Snohomish County is set to purchase and convert into emergency housing, is seen Monday, Aug. 8, 2022, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Over $130M for affordable housing set to be approved by County Council

The five-year investment plan of the 0.1% sales tax aims to construct 550 new affordable units.

Two snowboarders head up the mountain in a lift chair on the opening day of ski season at Stevens Pass Ski Area on Friday, Dec. 2, 2022, near Skykomish, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Ski season delayed at Stevens Pass due to minimal snow

Resort originally planned to open Dec. 1. But staff are hopeful this week’s snow will allow guests to hit the slopes soon.

Siblings Qingyun, left, and Ruoyun Li, 12 and 13, respectively, are together on campus at Everett Community College on Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, in Everett, Washington. The two are taking a full course load at the community college this semester. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Siblings, age 12 and 13, are youngest students at EvCC campus

Qingyun Li was 11 when he scored a perfect 36 on the ACT test. His sister, Ruoyun, was one point away.

Edmond’s newly elected mayor Mike Rosen on Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023 in Edmonds, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Mayor-elect Rosen wants to ‘make Edmonds politics boring again’

Mike Rosen handily defeated incumbent Mayor Mike Nelson. He talked with The Herald about how he wants to gather the “full input” of residents.

Outside of Angel of the Winds Arena on Wednesday, Nov. 22, 2023 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Police arrest Angel of the Winds arena worker accused of stabbing boss

The man allegedly walked up to his employer and demanded a raise, before stabbing him in the stomach, witnesses said.

Providence Hospital in Everett at sunset on December 11, 2017. (Kevin Clark / The Daily Herald)
After strike, Everett nurses, Providence agree on tentative contract

Following a five-day strike, union nurses and the hospital met to negotiate for the first time in late November.

The terminal and air traffic control tower at Paine Field are seen on Thursday, Oct. 13, 2022, in unincorporated Snohomish County, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Everett’s second-largest aerospace employer, ATS, names new CEO

New CEO Robert Cords will lead Paine Field-based Aviation Technical Services, which employs 800 people in Everett.

A sign showing the river levels of previous floods is visible along the Snohomish River on Monday, Dec. 4, 2023 in Snohomish, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
Forecast holds: Flooding to hit Tuesday in Gold Bar, Monroe, Snohomish

The Snohomish River was expected to crest “just below” major flood stage late Tuesday, according to the National Weather Service.

Chestnut mushrooms grow in a fruiting tent on Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, at Black Forest Mushrooms in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Fungi town: Downtown Everett home to new indoor gourmet mushroom farm

Black Forest Mushrooms will grow up to 20,000 pounds of tasty mushrooms each month. Its storefront opens Saturday at 2110 Hewitt Ave.

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.