Text messages exchanged between a mother and daughter during an American high school shooting have been released to the public.
Around 1am NZT this morning a lone gunman opened fire at Great Mills High School in the state of Maryland, injuring a female and male student.
The unidentified man was a student at the school and was shot by an armed school resource officer before causing further damage.
He later died of his injuries.
The traumatic text messages show mother Maria Sanchez Sokolowski communicating with her daughter Trinity as the shooting unfolds.
Ms Sokolowski shared the messages exclusively with TV station Fox 5.
In the messages, Ms Sokolowski attempts to keep her daughter calm as Trinity hides in a class with other students with the lights off and doors locked.
"[People] heard a giant boom in the hallway and everyone ran outside. And my teacher left," Trinity said in one of a series of messages.
"MOM. I'm panicking."
Ms Sokolowski replied telling her daughter to "be calm and stay as quiet as you can".
"I love you so much. If there is something going on be safe. I will be there soon."
The two students shot by the perpetrator remain in a critical condition.
Newshub.
