'Help, Mom': Student Sends SOS To Mother During Texas School Shooting, Scary Texts Now Viral

A photo shows a string of terrified text messages a mother received from her son on Wednesday morning during a shooting at his high school in Arlington, Texas. Four people were injured in the shooting, including three who were hospitalized, and the suspect was taken into custody.

A screenshot of the texts, obtained by CBS Dallas-Fort Worth, quickly went viral within hours of being posted. "Mom there's a shooting. Mom help," the student texted their mom when the shooting broke out.

Texts a mother shared with me from her son, during the shooting at a high school today in Mansfield. Captures the moment well pic.twitter.com/sS6HxpMW9J

¡ª Jason Allen (@CBS11JasonAllen) October 6, 2021

What had happened?

The texts were sent at 9:15 am on Wednesday, around the same time that police responded to a call about a reported shooting on the second floor of Timberview High School. Officials believe the shooting may have happened after two students started fighting in class, and the suspect, 18-year-old Timothy George Simpkins, pulled out a gun.

Two victims had been shot and two others were injured. Three of the victims were hospitalized, with at least one requiring surgery. "Mom I'm scared," the woman's son wrote. After she asked if he was safe, he responded, "IDK [I don't know] mom."

CBS

Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America posted a screenshot of the texts, saying, "No parent should ever receive a text like this; no child should feel the terror of an active shoot in their school."

Other heartbreaking texts

Several parents told CBS Dallas-Fort Worth they had received similar messages from their children who were at Timberview at the time of the shooting. "She texted me when I was at work and she said, 'Mom, this is not a drill and I love you,'" Kimberly Middleton told the CBS station. "That was a little hard for me this morning."

Credit: Joe Raedle

Another parent told the affiliate that the situation could have ended "so much differently than what it did." "When you wake up in the morning, you think it's going to be one way and it ends up being a completely different way," Stephanie Wade said. "You never know when it's going to be your last day. So I am very thankful to have my daughter with me."

Debate over gun laws

The messages from the boy who was stuck inside the school building amid the shooting went viral on social media, triggering a debate over gun laws in the US state. It led to a plethora of reactions online with many criticising the sale of guns in the US state.

this will keep happening unless people start using their brain and implement gun control laws.

citizens shouldn't be able to just get a gun, owning a gun should be illegal, unless you're properly trained for using one or your job requires you to carry one.

¡ª Angelos Vlahos (@angelosvlahos) October 7, 2021

Even shooter drills are traumatizing for kids (and adults).

This is NOT NORMAL. We are the only country in the world that prefers to prepare for active shooters over just preventing them to begin with. I¡¯m so sad for our kids.

¡ª Jess P. ? (@Jessnj4554) October 6, 2021

Gun violence is here to stay. It's a tragedy but if you're asking "Should gun hobbyists be inconvenienced so that children can live" the voters have already spoken loudly on this.

¡ª Helvering Davis (@low_tex) October 6, 2021

Tears in my eyes as I read it. Could imagine my own daughter texting me. I am so sorry for this child and mother.

¡ª Francine (@francineromary) October 6, 2021

Wednesday's incident marks the latest in a string of U.S. school shootings in 2021. According to EducationWeek, there have been 22 school shootings resulting in injuries or deaths since January 1. Those incidents have resulted in the deaths of six people, including four students, and 31 injured. More than half of the shootings have taken place since the fall term began.

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