We’re now two weeks since the Sept. 2 shooting at Westwood Hills Elementary School, and Waynesboro Police told us today that it can’t give us a timeframe for when it expects its investigation into the shooting might be complete.
“With the volume of information and evidence the investigators continue working on, I would hate to give you a timeframe that will likely be inaccurate,” a police department spokesperson told us today.
From the archives
- Coverage of the Westwood Hills shooting: click here.
Following up, I asked if the department, at this stage in its investigation, has any sense that it may be bringing charges against anyone in association with the shooting.
The answer: “At this time, I don’t have any further information on charges.”
So, there you go.
The shooter, Anthony Ignatiadis-Isabelle, 19, died from a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the scene, his body reportedly found in the school library.
What we know, at this stage, is what we were told at a press conference on Sept. 2, and then a Facebook post made by the PD two days later, on Sept. 4.
What we were told then:
Ignatiadis-Isabelle drove to the area, parked at Ridgeview Park, and walked to the school property, roughly a half-mile from the parking lot to the back side of the school, carrying a 20-gauge shotgun.
We don’t have information yet on the number of shells would have been available to him – the range would be from as low as two to as many as 20, if he was using a high-capacity magazine.
That will be important information to have, when it becomes available.
Upon arriving at the school, Ignatiadis-Isabelle “forced his way in by shooting through a rear door and breaking through it.”
“At this time, there is no evidence that anyone else was directly involved in Wednesday’s incident, or that any other parties, co-conspirators, or others besides the suspect were at or near the school at the time to commit violence. The suspect appears to have acted alone, although further investigation may reveal information that changes this stance,” the PD report from Sept. 4 told us.
Investigators were, at that time, still working “to confirm the suspect’s activity, motive and actions leading up to and during the event.”
More from the Sept. 4 report:
- “There is no connection or relationship between the suspect and the staff member who was injured.”
- “School resource officers were among the first officers to respond to the school. They arrived about a minute and thirty seconds after the initial notification.”
- “The quick-thinking and heroic actions of Westwood Hills staff in initiating lockdown procedures upon immediate notification on Wednesday morning undoubtedly saved lives. Combined with the quick response by law enforcement, everything further minimized the opportunity for the suspect to commit any further violence.”
To reiterate, and reinforce, Waynesboro Police are telling us today that they can’t give a timeline for when they can go public with additional information on the shooting.
This, as the school system is preparing to reopen Westwood Hills tomorrow, against a backdrop of dozens of families, teachers and staff would like to know what they can, just for peace of mind.
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Chris Graham
