Fourteen-year-old Mason Schermerhorn was one of four victims killed in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. Moments before his death, Mason, who was autistic, texted his mother from a restroom, saying he was safe.
Youth minister Ronald Clark, who rushed to the scene, helped Mason’s mother search for him. She believed he was okay until Clark confirmed the tragic news: Mason was among the dead. Clark described the heartbreak of delivering the news and remembered Mason as a joyful, kind boy who didn’t let autism define him.
Other students also texted loved ones during the shooting, including one boy who wrote, “School shooting rn. I’m scared… Someone’s dead.”
Mason’s sister, Alanna Wallace, remembered her brother as loving, energetic, and deeply protective. She is coping by honoring his positive spirit, supported by friends as she grieves the devastating loss.
