Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro, Virginia, was evacuated Wednesday morning as law enforcement immediately responded to an emergency that some reports described as a shooting.
Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith confirmed that all students, teachers and staff were escorted off to a designated staging area while officers conducted a thorough clearance of the school.
Later on, authorities stated the location was contained, with no ongoing threat reported.
Westwood Hills Elementary school shooting incident
Waynesboro Public Schools stated all students, teachers and staff were accounted for and safe. ABC News, citing several sources familiar with the incident, reported that one individual was injured.
As a precautionary measure, all other public schools in Waynesboro remained temporarily locked down around noon.
Notably, the lockdown ended at nearly 12:30pm, enabling parents to pick up their children. Students from Westwood Hills Elementary were also released to their parents and authorized guardians.
Reunification efforts were coordinated at Westminster Presbyterian Church on Mount Vernon Street, where families were instructed to enter via designated areas and follow directions from school officials and law enforcement.
As per Augusta Health, the hospital continued its operations, with staff remaining dedicated to serve and treat patients, offering quality care.
The hospital referred to the incident as a shooting in the community; however, other details remained under wraps, citing privacy policies.
Meanwhile, schools in the Stuarts Draft and Wilson Complex areas of Augusta County were placed under a precautionary “Secure” order.
The measure needed students to remain inside while normal instruction continued. Authorities lifted the order later in the morning after determining there was no direct threat to those schools.
Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger also said she was monitoring the situation and expressed support for the students, families, teachers, staff and first responders involved.
Authorities continue to probe the incident as officials work to provide further information.
