A rumor about a possible school shooting on Valentine’s Day has been making the rounds on social media today, but Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith said the threat “is entirely false.”
Zachary Cruz, the younger brother of the Parkland school shooter, has made Augusta County his home since 2018 when a pro bono law firm affiliated with Nexus Services filed a lawsuit on his behalf after he was arrested for allegedly trespassing at Parkland High School. The Nexus CEO and his domestic partner invited Cruz to live with them while legal proceedings were pursued, and he never left the area.
A post on the “Spot a Cop” social media page today stoked fear in parents and students in the Wilson complex in Fishersville after it claimed that Cruz “wants to carry out his brother’s legecy [sic] some type of family sycophantic warning to hurt innocent children.”
While the post may have been “misleading,” according to Smith, the fear felt by many is not totally without merit.
On Jan. 25, Cruz was observed trespassing at night on the properties of Wilson Middle School, Wilson High School and the Valley Career and Technical Center. Surveillance videos showed him approaching exterior doors, attempting to open them and peering inside, according to the ACSO.
Cruz was arrested on Feb. 4 and charged with trespassing.
After his arrest, Smith acknowledged “growing concerns” from parents and community members after a video surfaced showing Cruz supposedly live-streaming from the school complex.
In response, the sheriff said: “I want to assure the public that this video, which was live-streamed by Cruz’s attorney and later posted on social media, did not involve Cruz physically being present at any of the county school properties.”
Smith said Cruz was incarcerated at Middle River Regional Jail when the video was posted. He was released on Feb. 6 at 3:43 p.m.
After the incident, Smith said his office was working with Virginia State Police and Augusta County Public Schools to implement “heightened security measures.”
Social media post: ‘Shooting at the schools tomorrow’
The “Spot a Cop” post said police were not taking the matter seriously and said a Wilson Middle School student had been told Cruz had been on the premises again.
The social media post said not to “send your babies” to school on Feb. 14, because there “would be shooting at the schools tomorrow.”
“Keep your kids safe and at home,” the post said. “If everyone does this, they will have to take this more serious. Please don’t think it can’t happen to you. I’m sure that’s what the other parents thought.”
Smith asserted this evening that Cruz has not been back on school property since he was released from jail.
“It is deeply concerning that such misinformation is being spread, causing fear and panic among students, parents and faculty,” Smith said.
To further reassure parents, Smith said there would be an increased law enforcement presence at all Wilson area schools on Friday.
Augusta County School Superintendent Eric Bond also released a statement regarding the fears of a school shooting.
“We recognize the concerns that have surfaced regarding school safety. The safety and well-being of our students, staff and community are our highest priorities,” he said. “I want to assure you that school administrators, Sheriff Smith and his department are in constant communication regarding security measures. We have heightened security at all schools, and we encourage everyone to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to law enforcement immediately.”
On Thursday, in an unrelated incident, Hugh K. Cassell Elementary School was placed under the code “secure” after a suspicious person was reported nearby. Approximately, 20 minutes later, ACSO notified the school that the situation was under control and normal school activities could resume.
Anyone with additional concerns or information is asked to contact ACSO at (540) 245-5333.
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Crystal Graham
