Staunton residents awoke to grim news this week after an 18-year-old high school senior, Andrew “AJ” Wayne Mitts Jr., was shot and killed Wednesday evening in the Maple Leaf Drive area of Augusta County. Mitts, who was days away from graduating from Buffalo Gap High School, was pronounced dead at the scene. Another teen, 19, was critically wounded and whisked by helicopter to a Charlottesville hospital for emergency care.
Deputies with the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office were called around 7:45 p.m. to reports of shots fired. Emergency dispatchers told officers that two people had been hit by gunfire even before deputies pulled up. First responders, including rescue crews from Staunton and neighboring fire departments, jumped into life-saving action, but AJ’s injuries were too severe.
Investigators later found multiple firearms at the scene. Law enforcement says the violence appeared to stem from an illegal handgun sale, not a random attack. No one has been arrested yet and detectives are urging anyone with information to come forward as the investigation continues.
Family members, classmates and teachers are struggling to process the loss of a young man they describe as friendly and full of potential. AJ was deeply involved in school life and had plans for the future that now will never unfold. Friends have gathered at makeshift memorials and shared memories of his laughter, his passions and the small moments that defined his presence.
Across social circles in Staunton, disbelief has given way to sorrow. Buffalo Gap High has offered counseling and resources for students and staff. Teachers speak of Mitts with a warm tone, recalling his steady commitment in class and his easy rapport with peers. For many, the tragedy hits especially hard because it touches someone so young, someone on the brink of adulthood.
Authorities describe this as an isolated event tied to unlawful gun activity, but for locals the pain feels personal. Maple Leaf Drive, usually a quiet residential stretch, has become a somber place where neighbors exchange condolences and pray for healing. Conversations among parents now echo with concern for youth safety and community unity in the face of loss.
In the days ahead, memorials, speeches and school tributes are expected as the community honors AJ’s life. Meanwhile, detectives continue piecing together how the shootings unfolded and why, searching for answers that might bring relief to grieving loved ones.
