Wednesday morning started like any other school day at Westwood Hills Elementary until around 9:12 a.m. That was when 19-year-old Anthony Ignatiadis-Isabelle made his way onto the property and forced entry through a locked door. Within moments, the quiet hallways turned into a scene of active danger.
Inside the building, Anthony encountered an adult staff member and fired a shot. The bullet hit the employee, causing a gunshot wound that sent staff into immediate emergency response mode. Teachers and administrators instantly initiated lockdown protocols, locking classroom doors and pulling students into safe corners.
Police officers responded to calls of a suspicious person and arrived on the scene within three minutes of the initial alert. By 9:15 a.m., law enforcement swept through the building to locate the intruder and secure the hallways.
Officers found Anthony inside the school library, dead from an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound. The quick arrival of the officers prevented any further movement through the building, bringing a sudden end to the active breach.
School officials confirmed that no children were inside the library when the incident took place. Every student in the building remained physically unharmed throughout the ordeal, avoiding what could have been a far worse outcome.
The wounded staff member received emergency medical transport to Augusta Health for treatment. Doctors treated the employee for a non-life-threatening injury, and authorities confirmed the staff member was released from the hospital later that day.
Investigators are still looking into why Anthony targeted the school. District officials noted that he was not a current student and had no record of attending Waynesboro High School. Police continue to review evidence to determine if he had any connection to the injured staff member or any previous ties to the facility.
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