Father of Marysville shooter wasn't aware of court order banning gun ownership, lawyer says





SEATTLE (AP) — During opening statements in the federal firearms trial of the father of the teenager who fatally shot four classmates, his lawyer on Tuesday raised a conflict-of-interest claim about a tribal police officer.

Raymond Fryberg is charged with illegally owning the handgun his son, Jaylen, used at Marysville-Pilchuck High School on Oct. 24 to kill his friends and himself.

Prosecutors say Fryberg was the subject of a 2002 domestic violence protection order, making it illegal for him to have guns.

But Fryberg's lawyer said he was never told a protection order was being sought and never was given a copy.

The lawyer also claimed the tribal officer who claimed he served Fryberg with a hearing notice was married to the sister of the woman who filed for the order.

Since Fryberg didn't appear at that hearing, and the officer's form said Fryberg was notified, the order was automatically granted.