SEATTLE, Wash. — Raymond Fryberg was surrounded by supporters Thursday morning at the Federal Courthouse in Seattle. He pleaded not guilty to six weapons charges, including the Berretta handgun his son used to shoot five friends and himself at Marysville-Pilchuck High School.
The federal charges say, because Fryberg had a domestic violence protection order against him, he couldn't own the 10 guns they found. The initial charge was for the Berretta used in the school shooting, and prosecutors say the five new charges Thursday stemmed from guns the FBI seized in a raid of Fryberg’s house March 30. Most of the guns were rifles, including an A-15 assault rifle.
“I believe more and more that they don't know what they're doing, the prosecutors,” said John Henry Browne, Fryberg’s attorney.
Browne says the protection order never made it clear that Fryberg couldn't own a gun. He even showed KIRO 7 a concealed weapons permit from the state dated Jan. 14, 2013, which was issued after the protection order.
“What's important is he was issued one and did a complete background check and nothing came up,” said Browne. “If he knew about it, he would've never gotten a concealed weapons permit.”
The prosecutor wouldn't talk on camera but explained to KIRO 7 this is being tried in federal court because it involves interstate commerce. Even though the guns were bought in Washington, they were manufactured and shipped from out of state, therefore, making it a federal crime.
While Fryberg was again joined by more than a dozen supporters Thursday, his attorney says the Frybergs are now targets to some in the Tulalip Tribes.
“Their house was vandalized a month ago,” said Browne. “Every window in the house was broken out. This morning at 4:30 am, every window in their truck was broken out.”
The gun charges will be decided in a trial that starts Aug. 31. Each of the six counts could carry up to 10 years in prison and up to a $250,000 fine.
KIRO
