Jaylen Ray Fryberg was born on July 31, 1999. He grew up in Marysville, Washington, and was a member of the Tulalip tribe. Jaylen was close with his cousins, Andrew Fryberg and Nate Hatch. He enjoyed sports and was involved in wrestling and football. He attended Marysville Pilchuck High School, where he was described as a friendly and nice student by his peers.

In the weeks leading up to a tragic incident, Jaylen was named the school's freshman homecoming prince at a football game. However, he was reported to be having trouble in school. His grades were slipping, and he had missed several classes. Some students noted that he was upset after a fight with another student, which had resulted in a suspension from school. This fight involved racial slurs and had created tension for Jaylen.

On social media, Jaylen often posted pictures that included rifles and hunting themes. Just before the tragic event, there were signs that Jaylen was struggling emotionally. His last few posts were described as emotional. Additionally, he was dealing with personal challenges, including a difficult relationship with an ex-girlfriend, whom he had sent concerning pictures before the incident.

On October 24, 2014, Jaylen Fryberg, a 15-year-old student at Marysville Pilchuck High School in Washington, carried out a shooting during lunch. He had sent messages to several friends inviting them to sit together for lunch, urging some to skip their classes. Just moments before the shooting, he also sent a group text to his family and the families of his intended victims, apologizing for what he was about to do and sharing plans for his own funeral.

At around 10:39 a.m., Fryberg entered the school cafeteria and approached the table where his friends were seated. Eyewitnesses reported that he had a verbal argument with them. After this, he pulled out a .40-caliber Beretta handgun and began shooting. He fired at least eight shots, targeting only the table where his friends were seated. All the victims were shot in the head. After the shooting, Fryberg died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound.

Immediately after the gunfire, a school staff member, Megan Silberberger, attempted to intervene. Reports indicated that she reached for Fryberg's arm, which may have inadvertently caused him to shoot himself in the neck. However, later police statements clarified that Fryberg's death was a suicide from a head wound.

Around 150 people were present in the cafeteria during the incident. A lockdown was enacted while law enforcement arrived. An anonymous caller had alerted the police, who were on the scene within minutes. The school resource officer was the first to reach the victims and confirmed the situation to dispatch, noting that there were multiple casualties.

Fryberg's victims included his friends, among them four who died as a result of their injuries. After the tragedy, local law enforcement worked to evacuate students, taking approximately two hours to clear the school of over 100 students who were hiding. The cafeteria was later demolished and replaced with a lawn.

The motive behind Fryberg's actions remains unclear, but reports from students suggested he was upset over a girl who had rejected him. Following the event, there were threats made against students from Fryberg's tribe, prompting school officials to take measures for safety. Marysville Pilchuck High School reopened shortly after the incident, with counselors present to support students.