Vienna, Georgia: Two people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after gunfire broke out at a large homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia early on Sunday, as reported by Associated Press.
The shooting occurred across an area covering about four blocks as more than 1,000 people gathered for the event. At least 50 shots were fired at two locations roughly one block apart, Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy told WMAZ-TV.
The dead were identified as 21-year-old Jaquevion Jackson of Cordele and 23-year-old Macaleb Jackson of Hawkinsville, Georgia. Peavy said authorities had not determined whether the two men were related.
Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls said both men were pronounced dead at the scene after suffering fatal gunshot wounds. He described the incident as “horrific” and said several other people were also struck by bullets.
Victims Taken To Hospitals
The injured victims ranged in age from 14 to 51 and were transported to multiple hospitals in the region, Peavy said. Some were in critical condition, while others were reported to be stable.
Chris Hosey of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation said some of the injured had gunshot wounds, but officials were still trying to establish the exact number.
“We’re still trying to work through that,” Hosey said at a news conference Sunday evening.
Walls told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution that roughly a dozen people suffered injuries while trying to escape the shooting.
No arrests had been announced by Sunday evening, and investigators had not disclosed a possible motive.
Gunfire Sent Crowd Running
Ashley Gee, 30, who travelled to Vienna from nearby Turner County, told the AJC that the shooting sounded like a continuous burst of automatic fire.
“Like a machine gun,” she said. “One person ran, and everybody started running.”
Peavy said deputies were close to the gathering when the first shots were fired. More gunfire broke out after officers reached the area.
“We don’t know if it’s coming at us or someone else,” he said. “You just have to keep doing what you’re doing and hope you don’t get hit by gunfire.”
The gathering was held during homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School but was not a school-sponsored event, Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said. Schools were expected to open Monday with additional security measures.
Investigation Continues
Peavy said the festivities had begun on Friday night and had continued peacefully while deputies patrolled the area. Saturday night, however, brought a sharp escalation.
“We’re still working through the investigation to see what went wrong. But at large parties with people from different places, not just your locals, sometimes problems come,” he said.
“Our deputies were just about on the scene when it happened. They were at the end of each, most directions of where the block party was being held. But it was so many people. And it was just hard to figure out what was going on,” he said.
Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said the shooting happened about a block from his home. He said he saw “a lot of blue lights” but had not yet spoken to investigators.
The city had not issued a permit for the gathering, Daniels said. Georgia Bureau of
Investigation spokesperson Lydia Bullard declined to comment, citing the ongoing probe.