Sheriff's office says 'procedural mistake' led to lockdown at Wilson School Complex

FISHERSVILLE – The Augusta County Sheriff's Office said a procedural mistake Wednesday afternoon prompted a lockdown of the Wilson School Complex in Fishersville.

Shortly after 1 p.m., the sheriff's office received a call concerning a person threatening to take their life, reportedly with a firearm, a press release said Wednesday night.

"It was reported that the person was threatening to harm themselves, and stream it by live-feed over social media," the release said.

Deputies responded to the area of Freds Lane near the Wilson School Complex, where they reportedly spotted a man dressed in all-black and "carrying a gun," the release said. The sheriff's office said the man was headed toward the school complex through nearby woods.

According to Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith, the sheriff's office then mistakenly placed nearby schools on lockdown when it shouldn't have. The schools were supposed to have been placed on "secure," the release said, but instead were told to lockdown by the agency.

Smith said the schools were only following orders, and said the error was corrected in minutes. "This was a procedural mistake made by the Sheriff’s Office," the sheriff said in the release.

Wednesday night, Smith said the sheriff's office, along with the Emergency Communications Center and Augusta County Public Schools, strive only to use the "lockdown" terminology when there is an imminent threat.

As it turns out, it was later determined the original incident wasn't connected to the man seen by deputies dressed in all-black, the release stated. The sheriff's office said the man seen near the school complex was reportedly attempting to evade authorities because he allegedly possessed narcotics.

"Due to the male being in close proximity to the schools, a perimeter was established around the complex," the release said. "Buses with children who lived in the immediate area were held until the area was deemed to be safe. Throughout the evening hours deputies remained in the Fishersville area due to after school activities."

The Wilson School Complex includes Wilson Memorial High School, Wilson Middle School, Wilson Elementary, Valley Career and Technical Center, Shenandoah Valley Governor's School, and Wilson Workforce Rehabilitation Center.

Patrick M. Hickman, 22, of Waynesboro, was taken into custody at 5:40 p.m. on Jefferson Highway without incident, the release said. The supposed firearm was a BB gun shaped like a rifle, the sheriff's office said.

Hickman is charged with felony manufacturing, selling giving, distributing, or possessing with the intent to manufacture, sell, give, or distribute a controlled substance, the release said. He's also facing misdemeanor charges of public intoxication and obstruction of justice.

He is being held without bond at Middle River Regional Jail in Verona.

The sheriff's office said Virginia State Police, the Conservation Police from the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Woodrow Wilson Police Department assisted.

"It was greatly appreciated," the release said. "We would also like to acknowledge and thank the Augusta County Public Schools, teachers, staff and bus drivers for ensuring that the children made it home safely to their families."

Note: Additional information about the Wilson School Complex was added to the article.

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Brad Zinn is the cops, courts and breaking news reporter at The News Leader. Have a news tip? Or something that needs investigating? You can email reporter Brad Zinn (he/him) at [email protected]. You can also follow him on X (formerly Twitter).