Reports have emerged revealing that a 14-year-old boy sent a final text message to his mother just before he was killed in a mass shooting at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia. His sister has also spoken out about the heartbreaking loss.

Mason Schermerhorn, one of the four victims of the shooting, reached out to his mom from a restroom during the chaos. Ronald Clark, a youth minister and chaplain who was assisting during the aftermath, shared how he tried to help Mason’s mother locate him in the midst of the crisis. Clark, who had received the tragic news while at a store, rushed to the school and offered his help to the police.

After a short time helping at the scene, Clark began encountering the injured students. He described the situation as overwhelming, and while he wished he could help everyone, he recognized there were limits to what could be done. Many survivors courageously shared their stories with him in hopes of processing their trauma.

As Clark worked to locate Mason, he spoke with his mother, who believed her son was safe. She told Clark that Mason, who was autistic, had texted her saying he was in the restroom. However, after Clark brought a photo of Mason to the command post, he learned that the young boy was one of the four victims confirmed dead. Clark reflected on the pain of telling Mason’s mother the news, especially after their conversation just the day before, when she had expressed how strong her bond with her children was.