Georgia shooting: 2 killed, nearly 30 injured after gunfire erupts at homecoming party

Vienna: Two people were killed and nearly 30 others injured after gunfire broke out at a large homecoming party in the southern Georgia town of Vienna early Sunday, with authorities still trying to determine what triggered the violence.

Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy identified those killed as 21-year-old Jaquevion Jackson of Cordele and 23-year-old Macaleb Jackson of Hawkinsville.

The injured, aged between 14 and 51, were taken to several hospitals in the region. Some remained in critical condition while others were reported to be stable, Peavy said.

Georgia Bureau of Investigation Director Chris Hosey said some of those injured had suffered gunshot wounds, although officials had not yet established how many.

More than 1,000 people were gathered in the area when the shooting began, according to Peavy. More than 50 shots were fired at at least two locations about a block apart.

Deputies were already near the scene when the first shots were heard. After they arrived, further gunfire broke out at a nearby location.

“We don’t know if it’s coming at us or someone else,” Peavy said, describing the difficulty officers faced in responding to the chaotic scene.

Shooting follows homecoming celebrations

The incident happened during homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School. However, officials said the gathering was not a school-sponsored event.

The party reportedly attracted people from several counties in the region after a local high school football team won its homecoming game on Friday.

Sherrod Willaford, superintendent of the Dooly County School System, said schools would remain open on Monday, with additional safety measures being introduced.

“We recognise that its impact may reach many of our students, families, and staff,” Willaford said in a statement.

Peavy said celebrations had begun on Friday night and had passed peacefully, with deputies patrolling the area.

Saturday night's gathering, however, was markedly different.

“We’re still working through the investigation to see what went wrong,” Peavy said, noting that large gatherings involving people from different communities could sometimes lead to conflicts.

Witness describes ‘machine gun’ sound

Ashley Gee, 30, who travelled to Vienna from nearby Turner County for the party, described hearing a sustained burst of gunfire.

She told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution that the shots sounded “like a machine gun” before people began running.

Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls said the two men killed were pronounced dead at the scene after suffering fatal gunshot wounds. He described the scene as “horrific”.

Walls said several people were struck by bullets, while around a dozen others were injured while attempting to escape.

The shooting has shocked the small rural community, he told the newspaper, saying such an incident was not something residents expected to see in a town of Vienna's size.

No arrests or motive announced

Authorities had not announced any arrests or identified a suspect several hours after the shooting. No possible motive has been disclosed.

Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said the shooting occurred about a block from his home. He said he saw numerous emergency vehicles but had not yet received details from law enforcement.

Daniels also said the city had not issued a permit for the block party and that he did not know whether the gathering was officially connected to homecoming.

Vienna is a small community around 130 miles (210 kilometres) south of Atlanta and about 50 miles (80 kilometres) south of Macon.

The shooting comes a week after 12 teenagers were wounded by gunfire during a confrontation at a birthday party in a Macon city park, according to authorities.

The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is continuing to investigate the Vienna shooting.