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.
Nurse Hands New Mom the Wrong Baby – Her Reaction Will Leave You Speechless
The nurse checked Lucy’s twins before sending them home, but Lucy was shocked when the nurse brought them back. Instead of a boy and a girl, as Lucy had given birth to, the nurse brought two baby girls.
Lucy and her husband, Ross, had tried for a long time to have children, and they were thrilled when they found out they were expecting twins.
An ultrasound had shown they were having one boy and one girl, so the couple was eagerly waiting for their arrival. But when the nurse returned with two girls after the examination, Lucy’s face went pale.
Source: Pexels“Where is my son? What have you done with him? And who is this other baby girl?” Lucy demanded, looking straight at the nurse who had just brought the babies back.
“They’re both your daughters,” said the nurse, Savannah, her eyes glued to the paperwork. “I checked everything twice, and there’s no mistake.”
“Are you serious?” Lucy snapped. “I have reports showing I was supposed to deliver a boy and a girl. And after the delivery, I was told the same. There’s no way they’re both girls!”
Lucy saw the fear in the nurse’s eyes as she looked up from her papers. She was about to confront her further when Dr. Linda Carter walked in. “Could you please keep your voice down, ma’am? This is a hospital,” she said calmly.
“Keep my voice down? Your nurse brings me the wrong child and tells me she’s sure of it! Is this how your hospital runs? Should I contact the head doctor about this?” Lucy shot back.
“I agree with my wife,” Ross, Lucy’s husband, added. “We don’t want to make a scene, but if our son isn’t returned to us, we’ll call the police!”
“Please, sir, calm down,” Dr. Carter responded. “I’m sure this is just a misunderstanding. Savannah has been with us for years. Maybe she grabbed the wrong paperwork. Savannah, may I see the documents?” Dr. Carter asked. Savannah hesitated and then stammered, “No need, ma’am…I mean, I checked them. They’re correct.”
Dr. Carter sensed something odd and said gently, “It’s okay. Just let me take a quick look.” But when she reviewed the papers, she realized Lucy was right.
“Please give me a moment,” Dr. Carter said. “It seems Savannah brought the wrong reports. Another patient named Lucy Matthews also delivered twins, and it seems Savannah got confused.”
“I’m glad you finally saw the mistake,” Lucy said coldly. “Perhaps next time, your hospital could hire more careful staff.”
“I’m truly sorry, ma’am,” Dr. Carter said, turning to Savannah. “Come with me, Savannah. We need to get the correct records.”
Lucy noticed the tears in Savannah’s eyes as she followed Dr. Carter. Something seemed strange, so she decided to follow them quietly.
She watched as they entered Dr. Carter’s office, where Savannah started to cry. The door was slightly open, so Lucy listened in.
“What were you thinking, Savannah?” Dr. Carter said firmly. “Lucy Matthews delivered twins: a boy and a girl at 10:30 a.m. today. The reports confirm it. Why aren’t you telling the truth?”
“I didn’t have a choice,” Savannah sobbed. “The other baby girl belongs to my sister. Her husband abandoned her when he learned of her pregnancy, and sadly, she passed away after giving birth. I wanted to adopt her, but my husband refused.”
“Why don’t you place her in a foster home?” Dr. Carter suggested. “She’d be taken care of there.”
“I can’t,” Savannah replied, still crying. “My sister’s last wish was for her daughter to grow up in a loving family. When I saw Mr. and Mrs. Matthews today, I thought they’d be a wonderful family for her. So I swapped Mrs. Matthews’ son with my sister’s daughter and took him to the nursery.”
“But that’s not right, Savannah,” Dr. Carter said gently. “You need to return their son now. We’ll keep this confidential. I’ll help you find a solution.”
Hearing this, Lucy felt a mix of emotions. Savannah had no ill intentions; she simply wanted her niece to be part of a loving family. Lucy quietly returned to her room.
A few minutes later, Dr. Carter brought Lucy’s son back and apologized. Having overheard the situation, Lucy chose not to complain. But that night, she couldn’t stop thinking about the other baby girl and her innocent face.
The next morning, Lucy confessed her feelings to Ross. “I can’t stop thinking about her,” she said. “I dreamt about her last night. She was in our home, living happily with us. It doesn’t make sense, but I can’t shake it.”
“It’s because of yesterday, honey,” Ross said, trying to comfort her. “Maybe you need a distraction. How about we go somewhere?”
“No, Ross,” Lucy replied. “I want to adopt her.”
“But honey!” Ross exclaimed. “Are you sure? We already have two newborns. A third would be a lot to manage!”
“I understand, but I can’t ignore this feeling,” Lucy insisted. “Can we please go to the hospital today?”
“Alright, if this is what you want,” Ross agreed. “I’m with you, but I just want to make sure it’s not too much for you.”
Ross eventually changed his mind when he met the baby. She had warm brown eyes with a hint of green and stared at him innocently. He couldn’t resist her charm.
“I’m so glad you’ve decided to adopt her,” Dr. Carter said. “She’s lucky to have found a loving family.”
“Well, doctor,” Lucy said, smiling, “after so much time trying for kids, we can’t ignore this chance now. Just let us know when we can bring her home.”
“As soon as the paperwork is ready,” Dr. Carter assured them.
In time, everything was arranged, and Lucy and Ross took the little girl home. They named her Amelia, and it felt like their family was finally complete.
Savannah often visited them to check in, grateful beyond words. She became a regular visitor, spending weekends with the twins, Sia and Mark, and Amelia.
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