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Family Of Alleged Shooter Described As Hunters, But Not Violent

We’re learning some details about the student who opened fire at Marysville-Pilchuck High School before turning the gun on himself.

We are not naming the student yet, but state Senator John McCoy said he knows the family. They are members of the Tulalip Tribes.

“I did not really know the boy, but I know the parents and they don’t resort to violence, the normally resort to prayer.,” McCoy said. “They’re a very religious family, so this boy doing this is just totally out of character for that family.”

McCoy added that the alleged shooter grew up in a household where guns and hunting were a big part of their life. He does not know how accessible those guns were.

The veteran Democratic lawmaker said this is the second time a school shooting has hit especially close to home for him. McCoy has a nephew who barely escaped a California school shooting in 2001.

Since January 2004, Austin Jenkins has been the Olympia-based political reporter for the Northwest News Network. In that position, Austin covers Northwest politics and public policy, as well as the Washington State Legislature. You can also see Austin on television as host of TVW's (the C–SPAN of Washington State) Emmy-nominated public affairs program "Inside Olympia."