UPDATE: Westwood Hills Elementary Shooter Was Former Student at School
A staff member was wounded after the 19-year-old shot through a rear door to gain entry. Staff spotted him on exterior video and initiated lockdown procedures.
This article, originally published on Sept. 4, 2026, was last updated on Sept. 9, 2026, to provide additional information.
A 19-year-old gunman forced his way into a Virginia elementary school by shooting through a rear door, wounding a staff member before dying from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound, according to police.
Staff at Westwood Hills Elementary School in Waynesboro reported a suspicious person on school grounds at approximately 9:12 a.m. on Sept. 2, ABC reports. School officials have since said the gunman was spotted through the school's exterior video monitoring system before he entered the building, prompting staff to initiate lockdown procedures.
The 19-year-old was not a current Waynesboro Public Schools student but had previously attended schools in the district. Waynesboro Public Schools confirmed he attended Westwood Hills Elementary School and Kate Collins Middle School but did not attend Waynesboro High School.
A special education aide suffered a non-life-threatening gunshot wound and was treated and released the same day. Police said there was no known connection or relationship between the gunman and the staff member who was injured.
Gunman Shot Through Rear Door to Enter School
Police said the gunman drove to the area and parked at nearby Ridgeview Park before walking to the school property, according to WHSV. Armed with a 20-gauge shotgun, he shot through a rear door and broke through it to gain entry to the building.
Waynesboro Public Schools said that while its security protocols "provided safeguards and were functioning as intended," the gunman was able to bypass those safeguards through what the district described as an "unintended access point."
Investigators said they have found no evidence that anyone else was involved in the attack or was at or near the school intending to commit violence. Police currently believe the gunman acted alone, although the investigation remains ongoing.
Police have not yet determined a motive and continue to investigate his activities and actions leading up to and during the shooting. Waynesboro Public Schools also announced it will conduct a comprehensive review of security at all school buildings following the shooting.
School Initiated Lockdown as Police Responded
Waynesboro Public Schools Superintendent Jeffrey Cassell credited staff members and responding law enforcement agencies with quickly implementing the school's emergency procedures.
School officials said staff spotted the gunman through the school's exterior video monitoring system before he entered the building and initiated lockdown procedures. School resource officers were among the first officers to respond, arriving approximately 90 seconds after the initial notification.
Cassell said Westwood Hills had conducted two lockdown drills since the beginning of the school year. Virginia public schools are required to conduct at least one lockdown drill during the first 20 school days, according to state guidance.
"Our safety and security protocols and procedures worked," he said during a press conference following the shooting. "Staff notified law enforcement immediately, and our school executed our lockdown procedures."
The incident also prompted temporary lockdowns at other Waynesboro schools as a precaution. Students from Westwood Hills were evacuated and later reunited with their families at Westminster Presbyterian Church.
Shortly after noon, the district announced that lockdowns at all Waynesboro schools had been lifted and all Westwood Hills students had been released to their parents or guardians.
Following the shooting, the district launched a recovery and return information website for families, staff, and community members. The site addresses nearly two dozen questions about the incident, including school safety and security protocols, student and staff support, school communications, attendance, and operations.
The district said it will continue updating the site as additional information becomes available. Families and community members can also submit questions, which the district said will help identify areas where "further information or clarification may be helpful."
Police Investigate Separate Post-Shooting Threat
Days after the shooting, Waynesboro police received information from outside Virginia about a potential threat against Westwood Hills Elementary School for Sept. 8.
Throughout the weekend, officers worked with school officials and other law enforcement agencies to identify the source of the threat and locate the person involved. Police also conducted precautionary searches and checks of the school throughout the weekend.
On Sept. 7, police located the individual with assistance from the Harrisonburg Police Department and determined the alleged threat was false. Police said the investigation remains ongoing and charges are likely pending.
Police have not identified any connection between the reported threat and the Sept. 2 shooting.