Incident prompts precautionary lockdown of LHS
By Randy Arrington
LURAY, Sept. 13 — A “suicidal male” was reported to be heading to Page County shortly after 9 a.m. this morning from Rappahannock County. Within 90 minutes, the individual was spotted, lead a deputy on a short chase, and then abruptly took his own life on Route 211 west of Luray.
“…at approximately 9:12, the Page County Emergency Communication Center received a VCIN Teletype from Rappahnnock County Sheriff’s Office in reference to a possible suicidal male that was believed to be headed toward Page County. The teletype indicated that the male subject could possibly be armed with a handgun and rifles,” reads a statement issued by the Page County Sheriff’s Office about 5 p.m.
“At approximately 10:13, a Page County deputy encountered the vehicle in question on Bixler’s Ferry Road near Airport Road. The deputy turned on the vehicle and observed it, at which point driving behavior became very erratic and reckless,” the PCSO statement continues. “The deputy activated his emergency equipment and attempted to perform a traffic stop as the driver began to flee. During the pursuit, the deputy could observe the driver brandishing a firearm.”
The report indicates that at 10:27, “the vehicle came to an abrupt stop on 211 west between US 340 and Chrisman Hollow Road. Deputies attempted to establish communication with the driver with no success. A drone was deployed to observe the interior of the vehicle. When deputies approached, they found a deceased male in the driver’s seat with an apparent self-inflicted gunshot wound.”
That portion of Route 211 west up to the New Market Gap was closed to traffic for about three hours, as investigators arrived and processed the scene. The male’s body was transported to the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner for an autopsy and identification.
At this time, authorities are not releasing any further information. Around 2:30 p.m. Friday afternoon, local authorities reopened Route 211 West.
Shortly after 11 a.m., Page County Public Schools put out a notice to all staff and parents that LHS was going on lockdown. The notice was titled “Police Situation in Luray.” However, the notice also stated that there was no immediate threat to students.
“There is a community issue involving law enforcement on Route 211 (near the New Market mountain). While the situation is contained to that area, Luray High School is in lock-in out of an abundance of caution,” the notice reads.
However, the lockdown was short-lived.
“As a precautionary measure, LHS was placed on a temporary ‘lock-in’ due to the ongoing situation, which affected students planning to leave early or travel to the tech center. This precautionary measure lasted approximately 30 minutes and has now been lifted,” Lisa Procacina, Public Information Officer for the Page County Sheriff’s Office, stated around 2:30 p.m.
“There is no threat to the community, and there is no cause for concern regarding the safety of students or the continuation of normal activities. We advise avoiding the area if traveling,” Procacina stated as traffic began to flow again on Route 211.
For more information on the Page County Sheriff Office,
visit https://pagesheriff.com/
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