A tragic mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, on September 4, 2024, claimed the lives of four people, including 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn. Mason texted his mother from the school restroom, assuring her he was hiding. Unaware of the unfolding tragedy, she believed her son was safe.

Ronald Clark, a youth minister, shared that Mason’s mother had asked him for help finding her son: “He text me that he’s in the restroom. Can you please help?” Sadly, authorities later confirmed Mason was among the victims.

Clark recalled a conversation with Mason’s mother, who had spoken about their close connection: “The bond and the connection she has with her kids is unbreakable.”

WSB-TV reported on chilling texts between a student and his mother, though not confirmed to be Mason. The boy texted, “School shooting rn. I’m scared,” and later, “Class. Someone’s dead.”

Mason’s sister, Alanna Wallace, spoke of the joy he brought to others, describing him as a beacon of positivity. “He loved everyone for who they were,” she said, emphasizing his caring nature and love for his family.