When gunman forced his way into Virginia elementary school, superintendent says lockdown procedures worked

A 19-year-old gunman got inside a Virginia elementary school about 30 miles west of Charlottesville on Wednesday morning, injuring an adult staff member before turning the gun on himself, authorities said during a press conference later that day.

The subject, Anthony Ignatiadis-Isabelle, was found “dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound,” Waynesboro Police Chief David Shaw said.

His body was found inside the library of Westwood Hills Elementary School, and no students were inside the library at the time, police said.

Jeffrey Cassell, superintendent of Waynesboro Public Schools, praised the school’s lockdown procedures and training, saying they “worked” in a time of crisis.

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“Our safety and security protocols and procedures worked. Staff notified law enforcement immediately, and our school executed lockdown procedures. Every student and staff member is safe and returned home to their families,” Cassell said.

“If you don’t get emotional today, you never will. Today is the day every school system hopes they never have to deal with,” Cassell added, appearing to choke up. “Please hug your children and your families this evening.”

Ignatiadis-Isabelle had not attended any school in the district, Cassell told reporters.

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Authorities did not share any details about an alleged motive, nor did they reveal anything about the weapon used or if the deceased gunman had a connection to the staff member who suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.

The identity of the staff member, who was treated and released from the hospital, has not been made public.

Police emphasized multiple times throughout the press conference that the investigation remains active and ongoing.

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The last school shooting in Virginia occurred on Aug. 15 at Virginia State University in Chesterfield County. Five students were left injured and the suspect, 19-year-old Camron Harris, was arrested the same day after police said officers found him hiding in a closet inside one of the campus dorm buildings.