Two people were killed and more than 30 others were injured after gunfire erupted during a massive homecoming block party in a small Georgia town early Sunday morning.
The shooting happened shortly after 1:20 a.m. near Pine Street in Vienna, about 50 miles south of Macon.
More than 1,000 people had gathered in the area for a large homecoming celebration when shots suddenly rang out.
According to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, deputies who were already monitoring the event immediately responded as chaos broke out.
Authorities found two men dead in the 600 block of Pine Street.
The victims were 20 and 23 years old, according to the Dooly County coroner.
Their names had not yet been publicly released pending notification of relatives.
At least 32 other people were injured and transported to hospitals across the region for treatment.
Authorities have not released a complete breakdown of the victims’ conditions.
Witnesses described a scene of panic as hundreds of people tried to get away from the gunfire.
Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said shots appeared to come from at least two separate locations roughly a block apart.
That has complicated the investigation as authorities work to determine whether multiple shooters were involved.
Police had already been stationed near the gathering because of the size of the crowd.
When the shooting began, deputies immediately moved into the area and began helping victims while requesting additional emergency crews.
Ambulances transported wounded people to several regional hospitals.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation has now joined Dooly County authorities in investigating the shooting.
Agents are interviewing witnesses, reviewing available video and collecting evidence from the large crime scene.
Investigators have not publicly identified any suspects.
No arrests had been announced as of the latest update.
Authorities also have not released a motive or said whether the shooting began with a specific confrontation.
The violence brought a devastating end to what had been intended as a homecoming celebration attended by people from across the area.
Officials are asking anyone who witnessed the shooting, recorded video or has information about the people responsible to contact investigators.
Investigation remains ongoing.
Leave a Reply