Two men, both not strangers to law enforcement, are in custody in connection to a Feb. 18 fatal shooting in Augusta County that left a Buffalo Gap High School student dead.
Agereon Dondell Price, 51, of Staunton, and Anthony Shamon Washington, 46, of Waynesboro, are being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail.
Additional charges are forthcoming, according to the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
The ACSO reported that the shooting “was an isolated incident involving the illegal sale of handguns.”
Multiple firearms were recovered at the scene.
Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said the arrests of Price and Washington are the result of “swift investigative work.”
Few details have emerged of the shooting on Maple Leaf Drive that killed Andrew “AJ” Wayne Mitts Jr., 18, a senior at BGHS.
A second man, who was 19 years old, sustained life-threatening injuries. His identity has not been released. Police have not given any update on his condition.
It’s unknown how the two young men victims were connected to the gun sale or if they were innocent bystanders.
A family friend of Mitts said that the teen was “taking out the trash when he was caught in the crossfire of a robbery and was shot five times.”
AFP reached out to the ACSO for more information on Mitts and circumstances around his death but did not receive a response from Smith or anyone on his staff.
Two days after the shooting, Augusta County Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Kelly Troxell released a statement saying the school division was “shocked and saddened” by Mitts’ death.
“Words are insufficient to capture how devastated the students, faculty and staff at Buffalo Gap High School are at this time.”
Counseling and support staff were in place at the middle and high schools following the shooting.
“I ask that the entire ACPS community hold AJ’s family in their hearts throughout this difficult time.”
A gofundme raising funds for the unexpected funeral costs has brought in nearly $7,000 so far. No date has been announced for the service but his obituary was published.
ICYMI
- Caught in the crossfire? Shooting victim was a Buffalo Gap High School senior
- Augusta County Sheriff’s Office: Two victims in shooting on Maple Leaf Drive
According to the ACSO, Price turned himself in on Friday, Feb. 20 at 5:23 p.m. He was taken into custody on an outstanding warrant from Fluvanna County. He has not formally been charged in the Augusta County fatal shooting.
Washington turned himself in to deputies on Sunday, Feb. 22, at 3:30 p.m.
Washington has been charged with:
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Augusta County)
- Possession of a firearm while in possession of a controlled substance (Waynesboro)
- Possession of a Schedule I or II controlled substance with intent to distribute, second offense (Waynesboro)
- Possession of a firearm by a convicted felon (Waynesboro)
Both men have faced numerous charges spanning three decades that include firearm and drug distribution, assault and battery, cocaine possession and other related offenses in Charlottesville, Fluvanna County, Augusta County and Waynesboro, according to a search of online court records.
The investigation remains active, Smith said.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call the ACSO at (540) 245-5333.
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Crystal Graham
