Apalachee High School shooting victim Mason Schermerhorn sent last text to mother from bathroom, chaplain says

Mason Schermerhorn sent one last text message to his mother from the bathroom before he was discovered as one of four killed in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia, said a chaplain and youth minister who tried to help find the teenager.

Ronald Clark had stopped at a store on his way home Wednesday morning when he learned of the shooting from his wife over the phone.

He rushed to the scene and quickly offered his services to law enforcement officers at the command post. He was tasked with assisting the teams with the investigations.

About an hour later, he said he began to see the students, who were “injured.”

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“You have to have big enough arms to catch everyone, but there's not much you can do,” he said, describing the situation as “difficult.”

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He described the expressions on the victims' faces as “shock” and said those who gave their testimonies to him in an attempt to cope with the situation were “strong”.

About 30 minutes later, Clark said he began helping Schermerhorn's mother, who is his co-worker, try to find him.

“It was tough because we were just talking about her kids last Tuesday,” Clark said. “She said the bond and connection she has with her kids is unbreakable.”

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Schermerhorn's mother told the chaplain she thought the 14-year-old autistic student was doing well.

“Hey, I can’t find him,” Clark recalled. “I’m just here to get him. I know he’s safe. He texted me that he was in the bathroom. Can you help me, please?”

Clark then took a photo of the teenager to the command post, where he quickly learned that Schermerhorn was one of the “confirmed” dead.

“He was a wonderful kid, from what I'm told. He loved life, had no problems with anybody. He was autistic, but that didn't stop him from being great,” Clark said.

As for the advice that the Minister of Youth could give to parents, it is to maintain communication with their children.

“You don't understand how much we are appreciated at home,” he said, adding that some children's faces lit up Wednesday when they were reunited with their parents after the school shooting. “Watch out for your children.”

Source of the original article: Apalachee High School shooting victim Mason Schermerhorn sent last text to mother from bathroom, chaplain says