MARYSVILLE, Wash. – Last fall, Jaylen Fryberg walked into the cafeteria at Marysville-Pilchuck High School and shot five of his classmates.

His victims included his cousin, Andrew Fryberg, Zoe Galasso, Shaylee Chuckulnaskit, Gia Soriano and Nate Hatch. Fryberg then killed himself.

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Only Hatch survived.

Now, school administrators are defending the decision to include the killer’s photo in the yearbook.

After receiving criticism from parents and students, Superintendent of Dr. Becky Berg of the Marysville School District released a statement, saying:

“The Marysville-Pilchuck yearbook staff and students, along with school administration, researched the most appropriate ways to approach the content and layout of the yearbook after the tragic events of this school year.

This process included speaking to other school districts which have experienced school shootings and consulting with experts in the field. The outcome of these conversations was the decision that all students would remain in the yearbook. It has been our goal to handle every situation with sensitivity, relying on the advice and expertise of those who unfortunately have found themselves in similar situations.”

“I have never been so disappointed,” a student tells KING 5. “He has no place in a book where he will remind the children of the horrific day.”

Michelle Galasso, whose daughter was killed by Fryberg, says she “understands” why he would be included in the freshman section of the book.

She notes the yearbook also includes extensive remembrances of the victims.

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Local radio host Jason Rantz also didn’t see a problem with it.

“We have to remember that Jaylen Fryberg was well-liked, and that makes these scenarios even more confusing if you’re going through this. To think that the kid you ate lunch with, hung out with, went to the movies with ends up killing his friends and himself in your cafeteria is something pretty difficult to process (whether you’re a teen or an adult),” he writes at MyNorthwest.com.

“Even though what happened is probably tougher for these kids and families than anything you or I have ever experienced, you can’t pretend Jaylen Fryberg didn’t exist and I think removing his photo might try to send that message.”

KING 5 reports the shooter’s father, Raymond Fryberg, is “charged with illegally possessing the gun Jaylen used in the shooting.”

He has pleaded not guilty.