--- title: "When Your Teenager Was at a Shooting: What to Do in the First Days, What to Say, and Psalm 34:18 for a Broken Heart" description: "A teenager who was at the birthday party in a Macon, Georgia park, or who knows someone who was? What to do in the first days, where to call, and Psalm 34:18 to read." url: "https://biblenudge.com/blog/when-your-teenager-was-at-a-shooting" lang: "en" published: "2026-09-28" modified: "2026-09-28" author: "Cal Hewitt" tags: ["teenagers","trauma","grief","parenting","psalm 34","job 2","macon georgia"] image: "https://biblenudge.com/og/blog-when-your-teenager-was-at-a-shooting.jpg" alternates: es: "https://biblenudge.com/es/blog/cuando-tu-hijo-adolescente-estuvo-en-un-tiroteo.md" --- # When Your Teenager Was at a Shooting: What to Do in the First Days, What to Say, and Psalm 34:18 for a Broken Heart [Cal Hewitt](https://biblenudge.com/about/cal-hewitt)Published September 28, 2026 - teenagers - trauma - grief - parenting - psalm 34 - job 2 - macon georgia ![When Your Teenager Was at a Shooting: What to Do in the First Days, What to Say, and Psalm 34:18 for a Broken Heart](https://biblenudge.com/blog/when-your-teenager-was-at-a-shooting/featured.jpg) If your teenager was at the birthday party in Macon, Georgia, or is close to someone who was, and you are sitting outside a closed bedroom door tonight without the words, start small. Knock, ask what they have heard and how they are doing, and listen without correcting. The Bibb County Sheriff's Office in Georgia reported a shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park, also called Central City Park, in Macon, at about 12:06 a.m. on September 27. [CBS News reported on September 27](https://www.cbsnews.com/news/carolyn-crayton-park-georgia-shooting-teens-wounded/) that 11 people were wounded, most of them teenagers at a birthday party, with the sheriff's office giving ages of 17 and 18. The [Associated Press reported 12 on September 27](https://apnews.com/article/238c406ad5668f152d09422b382bdd20), also from the sheriff's office, and [CBS Atlanta reported on September 28](https://www.cbsnews.com/atlanta/news/19-year-old-identified-as-12th-victim-in-mass-shooting-during-birthday-party-at-georgia-park/) that the sheriff's office had identified a 19-year-old man as a twelfth person. No deaths had been reported as of September 28, and the sheriff's office had not released names. ## If you only have a minute ### Tonight Knock, ask what your teenager has heard, and listen. ### To talk to someone Disaster Distress Helpline, 1-800-985-5990, call or text (United States). ### Words to read [Psalm 34:18](https://biblenudge.com/context/psalm-34-18), once, quietly. ## What you can do in the first days The [American Academy of Pediatrics on HealthyChildren.org](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-To-Children-About-Tragedies-and-Other-News-Events.aspx) says a parent can begin by asking what the teenager has heard, what questions they have and how they feel. It offers a line to say out loud: "We are here to support each other." It adds that teenagers may ask more questions than younger children and may post messages of support on social media. It says children and teenagers should return to ordinary rhythms as far as possible. The National Child Traumatic Stress Network, in its [Talking to Children About Mass Violence](https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources//talking_to_children_about_mass_violence.pdf) sheet, says, "Protect your teen from too much media coverage and social media about the incident." It says coverage can bring back the fear that it will happen again and can spread rumors, and suggests asking what your teen has already seen online. It also describes closer check-ins for a while and keeping family expectations, while recognizing a teenager's need for friends. ![A phone lying face down on a kitchen table beside a mug and a folded dish towel](https://biblenudge.com/blog/when-your-teenager-was-at-a-shooting/phone-on-the-table.jpg) *Face down.* ## Where to turn tonight - The [SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline) says it "can provide immediate counseling to anyone affected" by a traumatic event or disaster, by call or text at 1-800-985-5990. Youth, adults, loved ones of victims and people affected by media reports can use it, including people who were not physically hurt. - The National Child Traumatic Stress Network publishes [a sheet for teens coping after mass violence](https://www.nctsn.org/sites/default/files/resources/fact-sheet/for_teens_coping_after_mass_violence.pdf), for teens who were involved, who saw or heard about it, or who were affected by coverage. It says, "If you want to talk to someone, ask your parent or other caring adult, school counselor or nurse, or primary care provider." - The [National Mass Violence Victimization Resource Center](https://www.nmvvrc.org/) offers information for victims, survivors, family members and communities, and routes to victim assistance and mental-health support. - For local help, ask your school or district, Macon-Bibb County, the Bibb County Sheriff's Office and the county victim-witness office. - The [Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program](https://cjcc.georgia.gov/victims-compensation/our-programs/victims-compensation) says someone eligible can include a person who "witnessed a violent crime" or "suffered serious mental or emotional trauma as a result of being threatened or being present during a violent crime." It lists parents or guardians of someone injured and names mental-health counseling among the covered costs. Ask the program which route applies. ## Psalm 34:18, words for a parent and for a teenager Psalm 34 is a song of praise formed in hardship, holding suffering and God's attentive presence together. A few verses earlier it says "His ears listen to their cry" and "The righteous cry, and Yahweh hears." Then comes verse 18, from the World English Bible: > Yahweh is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves those who have a crushed spirit. It says where God is: near, in the present tense, to a heart that feels broken, nearer than a parent can get through a closed door, with nothing asked in return. A question to hold as a parent: "What would it mean to let nearness, rather than explanation, be enough today?" One way to use the verse is to read verse 18 once, quietly, with your teenager's name, at a time of night when the house is still. Read [Psalm 34:18](https://biblenudge.com/context/psalm-34-18) with the verses around it, and [Bible verses for a broken heart](https://biblenudge.com/blog/bible-verses-for-a-broken-heart) and [Bible verses after a mass shooting](https://biblenudge.com/blog/bible-verses-after-a-mass-shooting) read nearby passages. ## What to watch for, and when to ask for more help The AAP's [page on post-traumatic stress](https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/conditions/emotional-problems/Pages/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Disorder-PTSD.aspx) says children and teenagers can develop post-traumatic stress symptoms after seeing a shooting, even when they were not physically hurt. It lists nightmares, flashbacks, disrupted sleep, irritability, sudden emotional reactions, trouble concentrating, loss of interest, being constantly on guard, substance use and self-harm as possible reactions. A child may need support beyond the family when distress continues for several days, when fears do not ease, or when problems begin at school, at home or with friends, and symptoms can appear six months or more after an event. So, the people to call are your pediatrician, your teenager's school counselor or the school nurse, and the national lines at the end. A teenager can also be frightened and sad for a friend who is hurt. ## What people say, and what to try instead A parent asked on Reddit's r/Parenting, ["What do we tell our kids after this tragedy?"](https://www.reddit.com/r/Parenting/comments/1l2u1qs/) Parents ask it, and the AAP's answer is to begin by asking. Some lines land badly, and you may recognize one you have said. These alternatives are the site's own wording. - Instead of "At least you weren't hurt," try "I'm so glad you're here, and I know it still landed on you." - Instead of "Everything happens for a reason," try "I don't have the answer, and I'm staying right here." - Instead of "Be strong for your mother," try "You don't have to be anything tonight." - Instead of "You need to move on," try "Take all the time it takes, and tell me if you want company." - Instead of "Tell me exactly what happened," try "You can tell me any of it, or none of it, whenever you like." ![A pair of sneakers and a paper lunch bag on the bottom stair in early morning light](https://biblenudge.com/blog/when-your-teenager-was-at-a-shooting/the-bottom-stair.jpg) *For the morning school resumes.* ## Sitting with them in Scripture In [Job 2:11-13](https://biblenudge.com/context/job-2-11-13), three friends hear of Job's trouble and come from their own places to show sympathy and to comfort him. They weep aloud when they see him, and then "sat down with him on the ground seven days and seven nights, and no one spoke a word to him, for they saw that his grief was very great." It gives company first and words later, which is what a parent outside a bedroom door offers by staying close. You can read [Job 2:11-13](https://biblenudge.com/context/job-2-11-13) with the verses around it. If you have been silent for days, [what to say when you do not know what to say](https://biblenudge.com/blog/what-to-say-when-you-do-not-know-what-to-say) may help. [Romans 12:15](https://biblenudge.com/context/romans-12-15) says, "Weep with those who weep." It is addressed to the Christian community and records shared feeling as part of life together, among Paul's short instructions in [Romans 12:15](https://biblenudge.com/context/romans-12-15). The site's own words to pray, alone or with your teenager: *God, be near to every teenager who was there, and to their parents. Be near to my child tonight. Help me to sit close and to listen. Amen.* ## Where to go next If your teenager, or you, need to talk to someone, these lines are listed by country. In the United States, the [SAMHSA Disaster Distress Helpline](https://www.samhsa.gov/find-help/disaster-distress-helpline) is 1-800-985-5990 by call or text, the [988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline](https://988lifeline.org/) is 988 by call or text, and [Crisis Text Line](https://www.crisistextline.org/) is text HOME to 741741. In Canada, [Kids Help Phone](https://kidshelpphone.ca/) is 1-800-668-6868 or text CONNECT to 686868, and [9-8-8](https://988.ca/) is for call or text. In the United Kingdom, [Childline](https://www.childline.org.uk/) is 0800 1111 and [Samaritans](https://www.samaritans.org/) is 116 123. In Ireland, Samaritans is 116 123 and [Pieta](https://www.pieta.ie/) is 1800 247 247 or text HELP to 51444. In Australia, [Kids Helpline](https://kidshelpline.com.au/) is 1800 55 1800 and [Lifeline](https://www.lifeline.org.au/) is 13 11 14. Anywhere else, [Find A Helpline](https://findahelpline.com/) lists lines by country. For bereaved families in the UK, there is [Cruse Bereavement Support](https://www.cruse.org.uk/). Tonight, knock, ask what they have heard and how they feel, listen without correcting, and read Psalm 34:18 once. If you would like a passage of your own, [Bible Nudge](https://biblenudge.com/) can take a line about what you are carrying and come back with one passage and what surrounds it. [Find a passage](https://biblenudge.com/nudge). ## Words that come up here Tap a term to see what it means. **Post-traumatic stress.** Reactions such as nightmares or feeling constantly on guard that can follow a frightening event, even without a physical injury. **Victim-witness office.** A county office that helps people affected by a crime. ## Share this page If somebody you know is carrying this, the link goes straight to the passage and what surrounds it. Nothing here asks them to sign up for anything. 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What psychologists and traditions say, and Psalm 34:18 for a night the hurt returns. - [Bible Verses After a Mass Shooting: Psalm 34:18 for the First Nights, Words for Children, and a Prayer for KwaMakhutha](https://biblenudge.com/blog/bible-verses-after-a-mass-shooting): Psalm 34:18 for the first nights after a mass shooting, where to call, words for children, and prayers for KwaMakhutha. - [What to Say to Someone Who Lost a Child: Their Child's Name, the Years After, and the People Who Came](https://biblenudge.com/blog/what-to-say-to-someone-who-lost-a-child): Messages to send today, a verse for the card, what bereaved parents say helped and hurt, and saying their child's name for years to come.