Two Killed, Nearly 30 Injured in Georgia Homecoming Party Shooting

Two people were killed and nearly three dozen others injured in a shooting linked to a “homecoming” party in Vienna, Georgia, early Sunday morning.

Authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the shooting, but no motive has yet been identified.

Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy identified the two people killed as 21-year-old Jakavion Jackson of Cordele and 23-year-old Makaleb Jackson of Hawkinsville. Authorities have not determined whether the two victims were related.

Chris Hosey of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said several of the injured suffered gunshot wounds, although he could not confirm exactly how many people had been shot. No arrests had been made several hours after the incident, and authorities had not identified a possible motive.

Sheriff Peavy said the injured ranged in age from 14 to 51. They were taken to several hospitals in the region. By Sunday evening, some were in critical condition while others were reported to be stable.

More Than 1,000 People at Party

Local officials said more than 1,000 people were attending the gathering.

More than 50 shots were fired at at least two locations about a block away from where people had gathered in Vienna. Deputies were already nearby when the shooting began. Even after they arrived, additional gunfire was reported roughly a block away.

The incident occurred during a weekend of activities surrounding Dooly County High School’s homecoming. Local media reported that people from surrounding counties had gathered for a party after the local high school football team won its homecoming game on Friday night.

Ashley G., a 30-year-old attendee, said she heard rapid gunfire before people began running in different directions.

School Officials Increase Security

Dooly County School System Superintendent Sherd Willaford said the shooting did not occur at a school-sponsored event.

He said the incident could affect students, their families and school employees, and announced that schools would remain open on Monday with additional security measures in place.

Sheriff Peavy said festivities had begun on Friday night and the situation had initially remained peaceful, with law enforcement officers patrolling the area.

However, he said Saturday night was very different. The large crowd at the party made it difficult for authorities to quickly determine what was happening at the scene.

Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls said the two victims were pronounced dead at the scene. Both had suffered severe gunshot wounds.

Several other people were shot, while roughly a dozen others were injured while attempting to flee the area, Walls said.

No Permit for the Gathering

Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said the shooting occurred about a block from his home. He saw police vehicles with their emergency lights on nearby but had not spoken with law enforcement officials at the time and did not yet know the full details of the incident.

Daniels also said the city had not issued a permit for the gathering described as a “block party.”

He said he was not certain whether the event was actually a “homecoming party.”

GBI spokesperson Lydia Bullard said the agency is continuing to investigate the shooting and would not provide additional details until the investigation progresses.