A shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro, Virginia, on Wednesday morning resulted in one adult injured and no children harmed, authorities confirmed. The incident was declared contained by the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, and all students, teachers, and staff were accounted for and safe.
Evacuation and reunification efforts followed the shooting, with students taken to Westminster Presbyterian Church for reunification with families. Waynesboro Public Schools stated that a large police presence remained around the school during the response. The lockdown at all Waynesboro schools was lifted just after noon, roughly two hours after the incident began.
One adult transported to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, according to a city council member and Virginia State Police. The shooter is no longer a threat, and the incident was described as an isolated event by local officials. No further details about the suspect or their connection to the victim were immediately released.
Governor Abigail Spanberger issued a statement expressing concern for students, parents, and staff, and thanked first responders. Augusta County and Waynesboro law enforcement continued to provide updates as the investigation progressed.
Timeline of key events
- 9:00 AM (approx.): Shooting reported at Westwood Hills Elementary School.
- 9:30 AM (approx.): School placed on lockdown; students evacuated to Westminster Presbyterian Church.
- 10:00 AM (approx.): Augusta County Sheriff’s Office declares incident contained.
- 12:00 PM (approx.): Waynesboro Public Schools announces lockdown lifted; students released to parents.
- Afternoon: Waynesboro police and Virginia State Police prepare to release a full statement.
School and community response
Waynesboro Public Schools confirmed via social media that all students, teachers, and staff were safe and accounted for. The school system urged parents to follow instructions from law enforcement and school staff. Emergency vehicles and buses were prioritized by officials, who asked the public to avoid the immediate area to prevent blockages.
Local officials, including Jim Wood, a Waynesboro city council member, described the incident as a one-on-one event and noted that the shooter posed no further threat. Wood, who was at a nearby event when the shooting occurred, later assisted at the reunification site.
Government and law enforcement statements
Virginia State Police spokeswoman Robin Lawson confirmed initial reports of one adult injured and no children harmed. Waynesboro police indicated a full statement would be released later in the day. Governor Spanberger’s office stated she was monitoring the situation and offered condolences to those affected.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.