BARROW COUNTY, Ga. — A 14-year-old boy was among one of the people who was shot and killed at Apalachee High School on Wednesday.
Mason Schermerhorn was one of two students killed at the school. Two teachers were also killed, and nine others were hospitalized.
Following the shooting, his family went to social media, trying to find him and get an update on what could have happened to him.
"It's crazy. I mean, this is absolutely terrifying," Brook Livington said, a friend to the Schermerhorn family.
Livingston said she was at the school for three hours before she learned that Mason Schermerhorn "was one of the four that did not make it out of the class."
A family friend, Rebecca Good, told 11Alive that he always loved to give big hugs and had a great sense of humor.
"Mason was a funny, creative kid who loved to give big hugs," Good said. "He should have lived a long life of making others smile."
More on the tragedy
Law enforcement responded to reports of an active shooter at 10:23 a.m., according to a release from the Barrow County Sheriff's Office. The situation unfolded rapidly, with multiple agencies arriving on the scene to manage the emergency and begin the investigation.
Authorities have confirmed that a 14-year-old suspect is in custody. The Barrow County Sheriff's Office, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI), and other law enforcement agencies are investigating the incident to gather more details about the suspect and their possible motives.
"First and foremost, we wanna lift up our community, give our sympathies to our community, school system, kids, parents, that had to witness this today," Sheriff Jud Smith said. "Obviously, what you see behind us is an evil thing today."
Apalachee High School is located on Haymon Morris Road, just outside the city limits of Winder in Barrow County, Georgia. The school is part of the Barrow County School District, which also includes nearby schools such as Haymon Morris Middle School, Yargo Elementary School, and Cadence Academy Preschool.
11Alive is still working to learn more about Mason and the legacy he leaves for his loved ones.