The tragic story of 14-year-old Mason Schermerhorn, one of the victims in the Georgia High School Shooting. Join us in honoring his memory and raising awareness for autism.
Courtesy of Instagram
A 14-year-old student with autism was identified by family members as one of four victims killed in Wednesday’s mass shooting at a Georgia high school.
Mason Schermerhorn’s desperate relatives had circulated his photo on social media after they couldn’t reach the teen following the shooting, according to WSBTV.
“If he is escalated, PLEASE use a calm voice with him,” family members posted online.
“Let him know his mom is looking for him for reassurance.”
Schermerhorn’s mother later told the outlet that her son was among the dead at Apalachee High School.
The teenager enjoyed spending time with his family, telling jokes, playing video games and trips to Walt Disney World, family friends told the New York Times.
“He really enjoyed life,” Doug Kilburn, a longtime friend of the boy’s mother, told the paper. “He always had an upbeat attitude about everything.”
Schermerhorn, another 14-year-old student identified as Christian Angulo and two math teachers — Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Christina Irimie, 53 — were gunned down in the shooting, allegedly by 14-year-old suspect Colt Gray.
Another nine victims, including special education teacher David Phenix and eight students, were hospitalized with gunshot wounds, law enforcement said. All are expected to survive, Barrow County Sheriff Jud Smith said.
Gray allegedly opened fire — using an AR-15-style gun — inside the high school around 10:30 a.m., officials said during an evening press conference.
He “immediately surrendered” to two school resources officers and was taken into custody shortly after he began his deadly rampage. He is expected to be charged as an adult.
The teen gunman had been on the FBI’s radar for more than a year after he was investigated over online threats to shoot up a school.
The Jackson County Sheriff’s Office previously interviewed Gray and his father after the FBI had received multiple tips about the school shooting threats — which included photos of guns — in May 2023.
The then-13-year-old denied making the threats and his father told investigators that he kept hunting guns in their home, but Gray did not have unsupervised access to them, according to the FBI.
Law enforcement officials at the time said they did not have probable cause to arrest the teenager or take further action.
What is autism?
Autism is a developmental disorder characterized by difficulties with social interaction and communication, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. It is a spectrum disorder, meaning that the severity and symptoms can vary greatly from person to person. Autism affects individuals in different ways and can impact their ability to function and interact with others in daily life. It is typically diagnosed in early childhood and can continue throughout a person’s life. There is no known single cause of autism, but research suggests a combination of genetic and environmental factors may play a role. There is currently no cure for autism, but early intervention and therapies can improve symptoms and quality of life.
Local St. Louis autism organization:
ABA Therapy At BlueSprig – St. Louis
Here at BlueSprig St. Louis, our goal is to help your child reach their full potential. We proudly serve the Greater St. Louis Metro area. The team at our St. Louis center is completely dedicated to your child’s care, utilizing evidence-based Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) treatment strategies to help children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) increase communication, develop independence, and learn important life skills.
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