08/27/2026
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ISSUE DATE: August 27, 2026
Lovingston, VA – On Thursday August 27th, 2026, at approximately 7:41 A.M., Nelson County Deputies were dispatched to a residential address located at 2323 Afton Mountain Road, Afton, Virginia, to conduct a welfare check on the residents of the premises. The caller requesting the welfare check was a neighbor who could hear screaming coming from inside the residence.
Upon arrival at this address, Deputies approached the front of the residence to establish contact with the resident. Prior to reaching the front entrance, Deputies heard the sound of a gunshot which originated from inside the residence. Deputies immediately took cover on the exterior of the premises, at which time they began to announce their presence to the residents.
Within minutes, a female exited the front entrance of the residence and took safety with the Deputies on scene. The female informed Deputies that she was in a relationship with the resident, whom she identified as Mr. Michael Wayne Scott. The female informed Deputies that Mr. Scott was in possession of fi****ms, and he had been preventing her from leaving the residence. When Mr. Scott observed Deputies at the premises, he discharged the firearm inside the dwelling and allowed the female to exit the residence unharmed. The female confirmed that no other individuals were inside the residence other than Mr. Scott.
Deputies secured a perimeter around the residence while attempting to establish communication with Mr. Scott. Additional law enforcement officers responded to this address, along with Tactical Teams from the Virginia State Police and Augusta County Sheriff’s Office.
Based upon information received from the female at the scene, Nelson County Deputies obtained multiple criminal arrest warrants for Michael Wayne Scott, as well as a Search Warrant for the premises.
As Tactical Units converged on the residence to execute the Warrants of Arrest and Search Warrant, Mr. Scott exited the residence unarmed, and he was taken into custody without incident.
Michael Wayne Scott of 2323 Afton Mountain Road, Afton, Virginia, has been charged with the following criminal offenses:
* 18.2-47 — Abduction
* 18.2-53.1 — Use of a Firearm in the Commission of a Felony
* 18.2-308.1:3 — Possession of a Firearm after having been Involuntarily Committed to a Mental Health Facility
* 18.2-56.1 — Reckless Handling of a Firearm
Upon ex*****on of the Search Warrant, a total of four fi****ms were recovered from inside the residence by Investigators with our office.
Mr. Michael Wayne Scott has been transported to the Albemarle Charlottesville Regional Jail, where he is being held Without Bond on the afore-mentioned charges.
I would like to thank the Virginia State Police and the Augusta County Sheriff's Office for providing their assistance in resolving this situation. I would also like to thank the Afton community for their patience, as we resolved this incident in a timely and safe manner.
Thank you,
Sheriff Mark E. Embrey
