GLOUCESTER COUNTY, Va. (WAVY) — Gloucester deputies responded after a man fired a gun several times off George Washington Memorial Highway Thursday afternoon.
The scene was in the area of Hunters Heaven, a gun shop just north of the Kroger shopping center and Abingdon Elementary School. Deputies blocked off the roadway, also known as Route 17, in both directions as they worked to resolve the situation. The lanes eventually reopened, but the response led to a long backup.
“I went out and headed northbound, and when I did, that’s when I saw what was happening up in front there with the police,” said Gloucester County resident Ricky Millen. “They all had rifles and that’s when I had stopped. And they motioned me to go back and pull over on the side of the road.”
Millen said he was nervous when he saw the traffic.
“When I saw this, I knew it was more than a car accident,” Millen said. “So, it made me a little nervous. And I got more family in the area, so I got a little bit nervous.”
At 3:56 p.m., the sheriff’s office said “we have successfully made the area safe” and “the subject and the firearm have both been located.”
A spokesperson for the sheriff’s office said they’re still investigating, but it appears someone was trying to shoot a wild animal in the area. That led to the sheriff’s office receiving calls. There were no injuries.
“Thank you for your patience! Public safety is of the utmost importance and closing GWMH in this area was absolutely necessary in order to resolve this incident in the safest way possible,” the sheriff’s office said.
School officials clarified that Abingdon Elementary was placed on a “secure hold” and was not on lockdown. They alerted families that buses and pick ups could be delayed because of the traffic.
“She said that they were outside when it happened,” Millen said. “They called all inside and then they ended up being in a restroom and stay in there until they got the news that everything’s OK to come out.”
Millen said he was glad the sheriff’s office took the necessary safety measures.
“I’ve shot animals out here before myself,” Millen said. “I mean, I lived here a long time, but I guess with it being with the way it is today, with all the school shootings and this and all that, I guess it’s best to take extra steps to make sure everybody’s safe.”