A Clayton County family was terrified Friday when they learned their niece and nephew were at a Texas high school during a shooting that killed 10 people, Channel 2 Action News reported.
Gayle and Jerry Beddingfield told Channel 2 they were on pins and needles when they learned their niece had to run from Santa Fe High School and hide across the street behind a building. The teenagers are students at the school.
Their family was eventually able to send the Beddingfields pictures of the teens to prove they were safe and unharmed, the news station reported.
“You can see the distress on my little niece’s face,” Gayle Beddingfield told Channel 2. “We can’t do anything because we’re so far away. So you feel helpless.”
Even though the Beddingfields are relieved their family members are safe, they know other families are grieving, Channel 2 reported. The shooting left at least 10 dead and 10 wounded.
RELATED: Santa Fe High School shooting: 10 dead, 10 injured, suspect charged with capital murder
Authorities have arrested 17-year-old Dimitrios Pagourtzis in connection with the deadly shooting.
Pagourtzis used two weapons — a shot gun and a .38-revolver, which belonged to his father — in the school attack, Texas Gov. Greg Abbott said at a news conference Friday.
A Molotov cocktail and other various types of explosive devices were found at the school and two separate locations, Abbott said.
“Our hearts are just breaking and our prayers are going out,” Gayle Beddingfield told the news station.
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