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Evacuation in Waynesboro
A shooting at Westwood Elementary School in Waynesboro, Virginia prompted students to be evacuated and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office to say the incident was “contained and secure.”
“Augusta Health says one person was injured.”
Augusta Health said one person was injured, while Waynesboro Police Department and other agencies managed the scene and confirmed that all students, teachers, and staff were safely evacuated to Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith told the public to not respond to the school so access for buses and emergency vehicles could stay clear.
The school division conducted a reunification at Westminster Presbyterian Church, and Waynesboro Public Schools reported all other public schools in the city were placed on lockdown before the lockdown was lifted at 11:05 a.m. ET.
Officials urge caution
Waynesboro city council member Jim Wood told the Associated Press that the shooting was an isolated incident and said the suspect was no longer a threat.
Wood also described the incident as “an isolated incident” and said the suspect was no longer a threat, without elaborating on the suspect’s status.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger said she was monitoring the situation and thanked first responders in a statement that included, “My heart is with these young students, their parents and families, and the teachers and staff at the school.”
The school board release emphasized that “the code Secure was directed out of an abundance of caution,” and said the issue in Waynesboro was not directly related to its school division.
What happens next
Officials said law enforcement and school staff continued working the scene and conducting a “thorough clearance” of Westwood Hills Elementary School while families staged at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
“Law enforcement personnel are actively working the scene and conducting a “thorough clearance” of the school.”
WHSV reported that as of 11:54 a.m., all Westwood students, teachers, and staff were “accounted for and are safe,” even as ABC News reported “one individual is injured and there is no ongoing threat.”
The Augusta County School Board said the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office ordered a code “secure” for the Wilson and Stuarts Draft areas as a precaution, and at 11:05 a.m. ACSO determined all schools in those areas could return to normal school activities.
WHSV also quoted the school board release that “the code Secure was directed out of an abundance of caution,” while the public was asked to continue avoiding the immediate area until further notice.