Mason Schermerhorn's last text message to his mother was from a bathroom before he was found one of four people killed in the shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, said a pastor and youth pastor who helped with the search for the boy.
Ronald Clark learned of the shooting Wednesday morning when he received a call from his wife while stopping at a store on his way home.
He rushed to the scene and immediately offered his assistance to the command post's law enforcement agencies. He was instructed to assist the investigative team.
About an hour later, he said he began seeing students who were “injured.”
A gun was displayed on video taken inside Apalachee High School, and an evacuation order was issued.
Mason Schermerhorn, 14, was shot and killed on Wednesday, September 4, 2024, at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. (Fox News)
“I wish I had enough arms to grab everybody, but there's only so much we can do,” he said, calling the situation “challenging.”
He described the looks on the victims' faces as “shocked” and said those who had spoken out and tried to cope were “strong”.
About 30 minutes later, Clark began helping his coworker, Schermerhorn's mother, search for the man, the affidavit said.
“It was tough because we just spoke about her kids on Tuesday,” Clark said. “She said that the bond and connection with her kids is unbreakable.”
Apalachee High School shooting victim identified, student suspect called FBI last year
Wes Robertson, a former teacher of slain student Mason Schermerhorn and a teacher in the county, places flowers at a sign at the entrance to Apalachee High School on Sept. 5, 2024, in Winder, Georgia. (Jessica McGowan/Getty Images)
Schermerhorn's mother told the pastor she believes her 14-year-old autistic student will be OK.
“'Hey, I can't find him,'” Clark remembers her saying. “I just came to get him. I know he's OK. He texted me that he's in the bathroom. Can you help me?'”
Clark then took the boy's photo to the command post, where he soon learned Schermerhorn was one of the “confirmed” fatalities.
From left to right: Math teachers Richard Aspinwall and Christina Irimy were killed at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, along with Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14, according to authorities. (Fox News)
“From what I heard, he was a great kid, he loved life, he didn't have any issues with anyone. He was autistic but that didn't stop him from shining,” Clark said.
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The advice youth ministers can give to parents is to maintain communication with their children.
“You have no idea how much we are valued at home,” he said, adding that children's faces lit up when they were reunited with their parents on Wednesday after the school shooting. “Please look out for your children.”
