As students huddled behind desks and doors during the latest deadly school shooting in the U.S., they frantically texted their parents.

Just before 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, Becky Van Der Walt received a terrifying message from her son, Henry, a junior at Apalachee High School in Winder, Georgia: “I think there’s a school shooting. We heard gunshots and the police shouting… We’re all in hard lockdown.” Minutes later, Henry sent another message: “I love you.”

Other parents, like Erin Clark and Sonya Turner, also received horrifying texts from their children. Ethan Clark texted his mom, “School shooting rn… I’m scared,” followed by “I love you.” Sonya Turner’s daughter Abby wrote, “There’s a real lockdown… I heard shots but not anymore.”

A 14-year-old student had allegedly opened fire at the school, killing four people and injuring nine. The shooter now faces multiple felony charges, including four counts of murder.

The victims include two teachers, Richard Aspinwall, 39, and Cristina Irimie, 53, and two students, Mason Schermerhorn and Christian Angulo, both 14. Nine others, including eight students and one teacher, were injured but are expected to survive.

As parents frantically communicated with their children, many shared feelings of helplessness. Turner, who was recovering from surgery, stayed on her phone, praying with her daughters and helping them find safe hiding spots.

One parent lost communication with her son, only to learn he was trying to save his teacher, who had been fatally shot. Turner also lost contact with her daughter Isabella when authorities confiscated the students’ phones, adding to the fear.

After hours of fear and uncertainty, parents finally reunited with their children, but the trauma lingers. Abby and Isabella now question how they can return to the school where they heard gunshots and witnessed such tragedy.