AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA (Rocktown Now) — At approximately 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office (ACSO) had a call for service for a suspicious person in the area of Cassell Elementary School.

ACSO requested that Cassell Elementary School be placed under the code “secure.” Even though the situation was not associated with the school, the code “secure” was implemented out of an abundance of caution. Doors were checked to ensure they were locked, windows were covered, and there were no outside activities during the code “secure.” All students were accounted for and safe in their classrooms. Instructional activities continued during this time.

At approximately, 1:49 p.m., ACSO notified the school that the situation was under control and Cassell could return to normal school activities.

UPDATE: Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith has issued a statement about rumors circulating that the individual was the brother of the Parkland School shooter, Zachary Cruz, who had been arrested the week before for trespassing on a different school’s grounds.

Smith says the Sheriff’s Office is fully aware of Cruz’s status, and the department, along with state and local law enforcement, remains committed to ensuring the safety of all schools in Augusta County.

To further reassure parents and the community, all schools in the Wilson area will have an increased law enforcement presence today.