Mom of SC 8-year-old who died in home invasion says son was ‘the best kid in the world’
LEXINGTON COUNTY, SC (WIS) - The mother of the 8-year-old boy who was shot and later died during an early-morning home invasion on Tuesday in Lexington County says her family is at a loss following his death.
Mason Hanahan died at the hospital after being shot during a home invasion on Cedar Vale Drive. Mason was a second-grader at Oak Grove Elementary School and loved by everyone who knew him.
Mason’s mom, Tyler Hanahan, says while Mason lives with her, he had asked to stay with his dad after baseball practice on Monday. The last time she saw him, she helped him get ready for school which she calls her “favorite daily routine” because she got to do his hair.
“We’re all devastated,” she said through tears. “I keep thinking this is not real, and I’m going to be able to go and pick him up from school.”
Tyler said he was the best kid in the world and that all of this feels like a nightmare. She says Mason has three siblings who all adored him and are all devastated.
He was a standout third baseman on the Pineview Dixie Youth Baseball team and had dreams of being a professional baseball player.
She says in addition to baseball, he absolutely loved his family, school, his teachers and his classmates.
In her words: “He was just perfect. I can’t explain it. I know I’m his mom, but he was just so special. He loved life and love everyone around him.”
His mom says he had just made his baseball all-star team on Saturday night and had his first practice Monday night.
“He’s been playing third base since he was 4 years-old and wanted to be a professional baseball player,” said Hanahan. “He had just made the all-star team Saturday night and the coach called me Monday night after practice to tell me how great he did.”
She says she just wants people to know Mason was extremely special she can’t explain it and she’s at a loss and can’t believe his life has been taken.
“He adored his family and his siblings and was practically inseparable from his 6-year-old sister,” she said.
Mason’s school issued a letter to students, faculty, staff, and parents on Tuesday, saying:
Dear OGES Parents:
We have some sad news to share. One of our second graders, Mason Hanahan, passed away. His family gave us permission to share this news. However, they also asked for privacy. We chose to send this information to you because we want you to know what we are doing to support your children and our staff. Our goal is to keep the school day as normal as possible. We are all listening to your students’ comments and watching for any signs of distress. During school, district and school counselors and psychologists will be available to meet with your child should the need arise. However, if we have any concerns about how your child handles this, we will contact you directly by telephone. We know how hard something like this is even for adults to understand. This letter contains some general suggestions about how you can help your child. In general, after something like this, children need to know that they are safe and that their home is safe. Remember, too, that children look to the adults in their lives, watch how they handle grief and loss, and take their cues from you as they approach difficult situations like this.
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