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School shooting victims remain critically injured

Police in Marysville, Washington, say it appears that a 14-year-old high school student deliberately targeted his victims during Friday's shooting
Popular student stuns Wash. town with deadly shooting 02:28

Four students shot by a classmate at Marysville-Pilchuck High School in Washington remained hospitalized with serious injuries Saturday as the community struggled to understand the motive behind the attack.

Two 14-year-old girls were listed in critical condition at Providence Regional Hospital in Everett, Washington, after sustaining gunshot wounds to the head. Hospital officials identified them as Shaylee Chucklenaskit and Gia Soriano.

Dr. Joanne Roberts, chief medical officer at the hospital, said the next three days would be "crucial" in determining their survival and potential recovery.

Two male patients were being treated at Harborview Medical Center. The hospital identified one patient as 15-year-old Andrew Fryberg, who remains in critical condition after a gunshot wound to the head. A 14-year-old boy, identified by family members as Nate Hatch, was listed in serious condition with an injury to the jaw.

Both boys have been identified as cousins of the suspected gunman, 14-year-old freshman Jaylen Fryberg, according to CBS affiliate KIRO in Seattle.

One girl was killed in the attack and has yet to be identified. Fryberg fatally shot himself after the spree, witnesses said.

Suspected high school gunman was homecoming royalty 02:54

Fryberg was well liked and athletic, a football player named to his high school's homecoming court just one week ago.

The suspected shooter's motives remained unclear. Some students described Fryberg as happy and social, even though he had recently fought with a boy over a girl.

Shaylee Bass, a 15-year-old sophomore, said he remained upset about that, but she was stunned by the shooting.

"He was not a violent person," she said. "His family is known all around town. He was very well known. That's what makes it so bizarre."

Student gunman opens fire in Wash. state high school 02:05

He was also facing problems, writing of some unspecified troubles on his Twitter feed: "It breaks me... It actually does...."

On Wednesday, a posting read: "It won't last ... It'll never last." On Monday, another said: "I should have listened. ... You were right ... The whole time you were right."

Students said the gunman stared at his victims as he fired. The shootings set off a chaotic scene as students ran from the cafeteria and building in a frantic dash to safety, while others huddled inside classrooms at the school 30 miles north of Seattle.

Marysville police declined to release the shooter's identity, with Chief Rick Smith insisting he did not want to "dramatize someone who perpetuated a violent crime in a place where children should feel safe."

However, CBS News confirmed Fryberg as the gunman.

Students and parents said Fryberg was a member of a prominent family from the nearby Tulalip Indian tribes and was a freshman football player. A week ago, he stood on the high school track during the team's homecoming game in a vest, tie and white sash as he was introduced as a prince, according to a video recorded by parent Jim McGauhey.

"They're real good people, very loving," Ron Iukes, a youth counselor with the tribe, said of Fryberg's family. "Jaylen was one of our good kids."

State Sen. John McCoy, a tribal member, said the tribal community was devastated. "We're all related in one shape or form. We live and work and play together."

Hundreds of people prayed and sang songs at a church vigil Friday night for victims and family members.

The Oak Harbor high school football team, which had been set to play Marysville Friday night, lined the front row of Grove Church in their purple jerseys. The game was canceled and Oak Harbor offered to give the win to Marysville.

Pastor Nik Baumgart told the overflow crowd there was no script for reacting to Friday's events.

"One moment we're thinking, we can do this," Baumgart said. "Another moment, we're thinking, how can we do this?"

Witnesses described the shooter as methodical inside the cafeteria.

Isabella MacKeige, 18, was having lunch with a friend when the suddenly heard gunshots behind them.

"I heard six shots go off and I turned and saw people diving under the tables," she told The Associated Press. "In my brain I thought 'run!' So I left my backpack, my phone and my purse and got out the door as fast as I could."

Some students got hurt when they tripped and fell in the chaos, she said. They ran across an open field to the fence that circles the schoolyard and climbed over.

She kept running until she felt safe and found a phone.

"I called my mom and she said, 'stay where you are - I don't want to lose you,'" MacKeige said.

Brian Patrick said his daughter, a freshman, was 10 feet from the gunman. She ran from the cafeteria and immediately called her mother.

Patrick said his daughter said, "The guy walked into the cafeteria, pulled out a gun and started shooting. No arguing, no yelling."

A crowd of parents later waited in a parking lot outside a nearby church where they were reunited with their children.

Patrick said after the shooting that his other daughter, a senior at the school, was "hysterical" when she called him from her classroom.

"I thought, 'God let my kids be safe,'" he said.

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