A tragic incident took place at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, where a 14-year-old boy sent a message to his mom before he was killed in a mass shooting. His heartbroken sister has also spoken about the terrible event.
The boy, Mason Schermerhorn, was one of four victims who lost their lives in the shooting. He had texted his mom while hiding in a school restroom, but sadly, he didn’t make it out. Ronald Clark, a youth minister and chaplain, shared this information. He also mentioned how he tried to help search for Mason during the chaos of the shooting.
This story has left many grieving and searching for answers.
On the morning of September 4, when the shooting happened, Ronald Clark had stopped at a store on his way home. He received a call from his wife, who told him about the shooting at Apalachee High School. Clark immediately went to the school and offered his help to the police officers who were working at the command post.
Clark was assigned to assist the teams working on the investigation. After about an hour, he began encountering injured students who were in shock.
He described the situation as “challenging” and mentioned that although he wanted to help everyone, he understood that there was only so much he could do in such a large-scale tragedy.
Clark also highlighted the bravery of the victims who survived. He was impressed by their courage as they shared their experiences with him, which was part of their effort to cope with the trauma they had endured.
During the chaos, Clark tried to assist Mason Schermerhorn’s mom, whom he knew through work, in finding her son. She told Clark that she believed Mason, who was autistic, was safe because he had texted her from the restroom.
Clark remembered the mother saying, “Hey, I can’t find him. I’m just here to pick him up. I know he’s safe. He texted me that he’s in the restroom. Can you please help?”
The youth minister also highlighted what a great kid he was told Schermerhorn was, adding, “He […] loved life, didn’t have any issues with anyone. He was autistic, but that didn’t stop his glow.”
The youth minister also emphasized what a wonderful kid Mason Schermerhorn was. He said, “He […] loved life, didn’t have any issues with anyone. He was autistic, but that didn’t stop his glow.”
On September 5, WSB-TV released messages sent between a 14-year-old boy and his mom on Instagram. Although they didn’t reveal the boy’s identity, the messages provide a glimpse into how frightening and intense the situation was for those involved.
The boy reportedly texted his mom, “School shooting rn. I’m scared, pls, I’m not joking.” When she told him she was leaving work, he heartbreakingly replied with, “I love you.” In response to her question about where he was, he chillingly wrote, “Class. Someone’s dead.”
The 14-year-old shooter, Colt Gray, is expected to be charged with murder as an adult.
Following Mason Schermerhorn’s death, his sister, Alanna Wallace, has spoken about the tragedy in an interview with Fox 5 News’ Brittany Edney.
Wallace shared that her brother was a wonderful person who had a profound impact on many people, echoing the sentiments expressed by Clark.
Wallace, along with her family, shared touching videos of Mason Schermerhorn with Edney. She also talked about the hobbies Mason had recently picked up. He had started learning to play the trumpet because he wanted to follow in his big sister’s footsteps, as she had learned to play the instrument first.
Mason Schermerhorn also loved playing video games on his PS5, exploring virtual fantasy worlds with his VR headset, and visiting amusement parks. Wallace described her late little brother as a positive, energetic person and expressed how she can’t imagine life without him.
When asked what she wants the world to know about Mason Schermerhorn, Wallace said, “That he loved everyone […] No matter what they had, what disabilities, he loved everyone for them.”
Regarding how Wallace is coping with the tragedy, Edney shared that Wallace has been trying to channel her brother’s positive energy. Despite being her little brother, Mason had a protective, big brother vibe and always looked out for her.
Edney also noted that when she spoke to Wallace, the sister was surrounded by about eight friends who were there to support her. They gathered in a circle with some donuts, reminiscing about Mason Schermerhorn’s life and reassuring Wallace that they were there for her. Wallace mentioned that this sense of community is what is helping her get through this difficult time.
Our deepest condolences go out to Schermerhorn’s family and all the families affected by this horrific tragedy. We pray for healing and comfort during this difficult time of grief. Rest in peace, Mason Schermerhorn, and all the other victims who lost their lives.
What this old man observed on the pavement shocked him.
Pedro Bras shared the firefighters’ photo from Pedróg Grande, Portugal, on Facebook so that others might see it.
Everyone agrees that working as a fireman is a serious and important profession. The photo posted by fireman Pedro Bras made it very clear how seriously the firemen take their duties.
There is a tremendous need for firefighters in the region of Portugal that is battling a forest fire. 1,150 firemen are presently working around the clock to put out the fire and prevent it from spreading.
25 people have been hurt this year as a result of the fire, along with the damage of many regions. Two disastrous fires that struck Portugal in June and October of the previous year resulted in a total of 114 fatalities. This image depicted firemen who, although being worn out from their valiant efforts, continued to work in dangerous conditions. Pedro sent a photo of some of the firemen wanting to take a break and relax after spending many hours putting out a large fire in Pedróg Grande. “After working hard all day and all night, we decided to take a break and relax by the river for a quarter of an hour; at that time, we noticed that the air was thick with smoke.” According to Pedro, the firemen took a short break of 25 minutes to unwind by a river after working nonstop for 24 hours. He said that the firefighters had taken a break at this point. The shot vividly showed the smoke-filled environment. The temperature rose to an all-time high of around 116 degrees Fahrenheit on August 5. In addition to the 13 planes that dropped water on the fire, a number of additional firemen also consented to help fight the wildfire. AWM claims that 160 soldiers were called into action in order to help with the evacuation efforts.
The photograph gained over 9,000 user responses, 1,300 comments, and more than 5,900 shares before rapidly going viral. A large number of people voiced their surprise at the firemen’ efforts. Manja Knofel claimed that each and every fireman in the world is a hero in their own way. Another user from Paris named Sweetie Racch said they deserved “rest and praise” for the outstanding work they had completed. The firemen have done everything they can, according to Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Costa. A number of them have had fatal injuries. The police had been hoping that the event from the previous year wouldn’t happen again this year. Share this to your friends that FIREFIGHTERS are Awesome.!
Leave a Reply