The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office had two concurrent incidents this afternoon near the Wilson school complex off Jefferson Highway in Fishersville.
Deputies responded to Freds Lane at 1:10 p.m. for a call of a person in suicidal crisis who was threatening to livestream the act on social media.
When officers arrived to the address, however, they witnessed a man dressed in black with a gun in an area adjacent to the Wilson school complex.
The two separate events happened at roughly the same time leading to some confusion with officers on the scene who initially thought the two incidents were related.
Due to the close proximity to the schools and reported firearm, a perimeter was established around the complex, and the school was initially put on “lockdown.” Because there was no direct threat to the school, within minutes, the school’s status was changed to “secure.”
Buses with children who lived in the immediate area were held until the area was deemed to be safe.
With the armed man still on the loose, deputies remained in the general vicinity while after-school activities took place.
At 5:40 p.m., deputies located the male suspect on Jefferson Highway.
Patrick M. Hickman, 22, of Waynesboro, was found with a BB gun shaped like a rifle. He was taken into custody without incident.
Hickman has been charged with:
- Misdemeanor 18.2-460, Obstruction of justice without force
- Misdemeanor 18.2-388, Public intoxication
- Felony 18.2-248, Manufacturing, selling giving, distributing or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give or distribute a controlled substance
Hickman is being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail.
The investigation determined the call reporting a suicidal crisis and the armed man in black were not related. There was no update provided by ASCO pertaining to the suicidal crisis call, response or outcome.
The Sheriff’s Office also reported that schools were mistakenly placed on “lockdown” due to a procedural mistake. The sheriff said that the schools were later placed correctly on “secure” out of an abundance of caution. The “lockdown” terminology is to be used only when there is an imminent threat to the school itself.
“At no time was there a direct threat made toward the school complex,” said Donald Smith, Augusta County sheriff, in a statement. “This incident was based on a report of a man with a gun walking adjacent to the school complex. It was determined that he was evading law enforcement due to the narcotics in his possession.”
Virginia State Police, Department of Game and Inland Fisheries conservation police and the Woodrow Wilson Police Department assisted ACSO throughout the ordeal.
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Crystal Graham
