WAYNESBORO, VA (Rocktown Now) — UPDATE 4:45PM Waynesboro Police say that at approximately 9:12 a.m., on Sept. 2, 2026, Waynesboro Police were notified of a suspicious individual on the grounds of Westwood Hills Elementary School, located at 548 Rosser Avenue in the City of Waynesboro.

Police say the individual, Anthony I. Ignatiadis-Isabelle, 19, of Waynesboro (Augusta County), Va., forced entry into the school. Law enforcement responded within minutes and immediately entered the school. There, they located, in the library, the suspect dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. There were no students in the library at the time.

Virginia State Police Spokesman Matt Demlein says the time between the initial call and the location of the suspect was approximately three minutes.

Demlein adds that one adult staff member did suffer a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The staff member has been treated and since released.

This remains an active and ongoing investigation. As investigators continue their work, additional
information will be released when it is appropriate and confirmed.

Westwood Hills Elementary School will be closed Thursday. Waynesboro Public Schools will
communicate directly with families regarding available resources and any additional information
concerning school operations.

Waynesboro Public School officials released the following statement:

“We recognize how frightening an incident like this is for students, parents, staff, and the entire
Waynesboro community. They are extremely grateful for the immediate response of school staff and
the coordinated response of the Waynesboro Police Department, Augusta County Sheriff’s Office,
Virginia State Police, and our other local, state, and federal law enforcement partners.

We want to sincerely thank the parents, guardians, and families of Westwood Hills Elementary
School for their patience, cooperation, and understanding throughout today’s reunification process.
We know how difficult it is to wait for information when your child is involved in an emergency
situation. Your willingness to follow the established reunification procedures allowed school officials
and law enforcement to account for students and reunite them with their families in a safe and
orderly manner. We are extremely grateful for your cooperation during what was an understandably
stressful and emotional time.

We also want to thank the Westminster Presbyterian Church, which served as our reunification site for
our families. Their help was immense in bringing our families back together in this trying situation.
There are still aspects of this incident that are under investigation, so there will be questions we simply
cannot answer today. We will provide as much verified information as we can while protecting the
integrity of that investigation.”

Quote from Dr. Jeffrey Cassel, Superintendent of Waynesboro Public Schools:
“Today is the day every school system hopes they never have to deal with. I need to praise the
response of our staff and the Waynesboro Police Department, Augusta County Sheriff’s Office,
Virginia State Police, and our other local, state, and federal partners. Our safety and security protocols
and procedures worked. Staff notified law enforcement immediately, and our school executed our
lockdown procedures. Every student and staff member is safe and returned home to their families.

UPDATE 2:51 PM: The Waynesboro Police Department and Waynesboro Public Schools will conduct a media press conference about the incident today at Westwood Hills Elementary School.

The press conference will be at 4:15 pm today, September 2, 2026, in the City Council Chambers (1st Floor) located at 503 W. Main Street in Waynesboro. The public may stream the press conference live via the City of Waynesboro YouTube page.

The link is located here: City of Waynesboro Press Conference September 2, 2026.

UPDATE 12:40 pm: Waynesboro Public School officials say the lockdown at all Waynesboro Schools has been lifted and parents wishing to pick up students can now access the school.

Officials say the reunification process of the Westwood students and families has been their priority and they appreciate the cooperation, understanding and patience through this process.

All students from Westwood have been released to their parents and guardians at this time.

Currently, law enforcement is at all locations out of an abundance of caution. Parents are encouraged to follow the directions of school staff and law enforcement.

Again, all students, staff, and teachers are safe.

UPDATE 12:10pm: Waynesboro Public School Officials say all Westwood students, teachers, and staff are accounted for and are safe. The school division is currently conducting reunifications of students and families at Westminister Presbyterian Church at 1904 Mount Vernon Street in Waynesboro. Families are staging in the lower fellowship hall.

Officials add that as a precautionary measure, all other Waynesboro Public Schools have been placed on lockdown. More information will be released when it becomes available. All schools are secure and safe at this time. Parents and guardians, please do not call 911 for additional information.

UPDATE 11:38am: Augusta County Public School officials say that the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office says all schools in the Wilson and Stuarts Draft areas have returned to normal school activities and the code “secure” has been lifted.

Officials say the code “secure” was directed out of an abundance of caution, and the issue in Waynesboro was not directly related to their school division.

UPDATE 10:48AM: Sheriff Donald Smith says at this time, all students, teachers, and staff have been safely evacuated from Westwood Elementary School and are at a designated staging area with law enforcement.

He adds that law enforcement personnel are actively working the scene and conducting a thorough clearance of the school. The reunification process, through which students will be released to their parents or authorized guardians, will begin as soon as it is safe and logistically possible. Additional instructions and information regarding the reunification process will be released as soon as it becomes available.

For the safety of students, families, school personnel, and first responders, Sheriff Smith asks the public to continue avoiding the immediate area until further notice.

The Waynesboro Police Department says they are managing an emergency at Westwood Hills Elementary School.

Police say the school division will conduct a reunification of students and families at Westminister Pressbyterian Church located at 1904 Mt. Vernon Street in Waynesboro. Families are staging in the lower fellowship hall. Please enter where the signs say “Entry.”

Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith says “the incident at Westwood Elementary School in the City of Waynesboro is contained and secured at this time. The Children are safe and are being evacuated from the School. Please wait for notification and instruction from Waynesboro Public Schools. Please DO NOT respond to the school we need access for the buses and emergency vehicles.”

Augusta County Sheriff’s Lieutenant Leslie Snyder says schools are on a “secure” as a precaution.

This is a developing story.