10/30/2014 AT 05:30 PM EDT
“Even though we may never know why, there can be no justification for taking the lives of others,” officials stated in a press release on Thursday. “These were the acts of an individual, not a family, not a tribe.”
Students were given the week off and are expected to return on Monday, but tribe officials say some of its students have received threats.
“While some have been directed at Native children, we are concerned for the safety of all of the children. Many of our kids are fearful to return to school, and some parents are reluctant to send them,” according to a statement.
While the school continues to provide counselors for students, the rural community searches for answers explaining why Jaylen would text and invite his friends to meet him in the cafeteria before shooting them and killing himself.
He shot Zoe Galasso, 14, who died at the scene. Gia Soriano and Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, both 14, were taken to the hospital in critical condition, where Gia was eventually taken off life support. He also shot his cousins Andrew Fryberg, 15, and Nate Hatch, 14. Andrew remains in critical condition while Nate has been upgraded to stable.
“It is our custom to come together in times of grief. The tribe holds up our people who are struggling through times of loss,” officials say. “We are supporting the family of Jaylen Fryberg in their time of loss, but that does not mean we condone his actions.”
