AUGUSTA COUNTY, VA – (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – Zachary P. Cruz, the brother of the Parkland, FL, school shooter who was taken under the wing of Michael Donovan, owner of Nexus Services, is now dealing with bad PR.
Zachary P. Cruz was observed on the Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center Complex after hours around on January 25, 2025. The incident prompted a collaborative investigation involving the Woodrow Wilson Police Department, Virginia State Police, and the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
During the investigation, surveillance footage from Augusta County Public Schools was reviewed. It was determined that Cruz had unlawfully gone onto the properties of Wilson Middle School, Wilson High School, and the Valley Career and Technical Center at approximately 11:30 p.m. The footage shows Cruz approaching exterior doors, attempting to open them, and peering inside.
As a result of the investigation, Cruz was arrested without incident on Tuesday, February 4, and charged with three misdemeanor counts of trespassing. He was held without bond until his release on Thursday, February 6.
In a bizarre twist, Cruz’s attorney, Amina Metheny-Willard, livestreamed and posted two videos shot from her car as she drove around schools within the Wilson School complex. The livestreams took place before Cruz’s 3:43 p.m. release.
Late Thursday night, Augusta County Sheriff Donald Smith posted a letter to the community, which is seen below.
In it, he assured the community that the videos did not involve Cruz being present at any school properties, as he was still in the Middle River Regional Jail at the time. It went on to say that area security has been increased.
Sheriff Smith uses Facebook to report arrests, missing persons, community outreach events and other such information, as do most police departments and sheriffs’ offices. Smith’s post reporting Cruz’s trespassing arrest was met with fury in its 300-plus replies. Replies to Thursday’s post regarding the livestreamed videos were met with both anger and safety concerns.
This is not Zachary Cruz’s first brush with trespassing charges. In 2018, he was arrested for trespassing at the Florida school where 17 students were slain by his brother, Nikolas Cruz. It happened after deputies spotted him riding a skateboard at the high school where the mass shooting took place, despite being warned not to visit the campus. A judge imposed a high bond amount and other restrictions.
It was then that Michael Donovan went to court and successfully petitioned for Cruz to move into his Augusta County home after Cruz was given probation.
In September of 2023, Donovan and his domestic and business partner, Richard Moore, were charged with stealing the money Cruz had inherited from his late mother’s estate, more than $400,000 .
Donovan’s trial for obtaining money by false pretenses, financial exploitation of a vulnerable adult and conspiracy to commit a felony gets underway on March 3.
February 6, 2025, Letter to Community
Wilson Area Schools
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office is aware of growing concerns from parents and community members regarding the recent release of Zachary P. Cruz; and the live-streamed video recorded at various schools within the Wilson School complex earlier today.
I want to assure the public that this video, which was live-streamed by Cruz’s attorney and later posted on social media, did not involve Cruz physically being present at any of the county school properties. In fact, at the time the video was taken and initially shared, Zachary Cruz remained incarcerated at Middle River Regional Jail. Cruz was released today, February 6, 2025 at 3:43pm.
I understand how troubling this situation has been for you, your families, and our community. The safety and security of all students, staff and community members are our top priorities. I want to assure you this matter is being taken very seriously.
The Augusta County Sheriff’s Office, in coordination with the Virginia State Police, Woodrow Wilson Rehabilitation Center, and the administration at all schools within the Wilson complex, is actively working to monitor and keep our local schools safe and secured. The Augusta County Public Schools Superintendent, Eric Bond, and his staff are in constant contact with my office regarding the safety of all County Schools. Our agencies have implemented heightened security measures, including increased law enforcement presence on and around school grounds. Additionally, we are closely monitoring any potential threats and staying in communication with school officials to ensure all necessary precautions are in place.
Please note: the ACSO has numerous School Resource Officers assigned to the Wilson complex, the Virginia State Police area office, and Woodrow Wilson Rehab Center Police Department are all in this immediate area. You should expect additional law enforcement presence in the area.
We encourage parents, students and staff to remain alert and report any suspicious activity. The collective effort of law enforcement, school officials, and the community is essential to maintaining a safe environment for everyone.
Thank you for your vigilance and for voicing your concerns. Your voice is loud and clear. Should you have any further questions or information to share, please do not hesitate to reach out to our office.
