Los Angeles -
The high school student who killed two and critically injured three students before turning the gun on himself last week at a school in Washington state invited his victims to the cafeteria before shooting them, police said on Monday.
Detectives have been able to confirm that the shooter arranged for a meeting of friends during lunch in the cafeteria, the Snohomish County Sheriff's offices said on their website.
He invited his victims to join him at lunch by sending them a text message, the sheriff's office confirmed.
The five victims were seated at the table when the shooter opened fire at Marysville Pilchuck High School, shooting them in the head, officials said.
The gunman used a handgun, a .40-calibre Berretta, which was purchased legally and registered by a family member of the shooter, authorities said.
One student, Zoe Galasso, 14, died immediately at the scene. Student Gia Soriano, also 14, died at a hospital on Sunday.
“Gia is our beautiful daughter and words cannot express how much we will miss her,” Soriano's parents said in statement posted on the hospital's website.
Student Shaylee Chuckulnaskit was still listed in critical condition at the hospital.
Two other victims were identified as 15-year-old as Andrew Fryberg and Nate Hatch, 14, both said to be cousins of the gunman, were being treated in intensive care at a different hospital in Seattle. Andrew Fryberg was listed in critical condition while Nate Hatch's condition had slightly improved, the Seattle Times reported.
The shooter was identified in local media as 14-year-old Jaylen Fryberg, a ninth-grade student. He was described as a “good kid” who was named homecoming prince to represent the freshmen class and was on the school's football team, students told reporters.
Police had not determined a motive for the attack. -
Sapa-dpa