Georgia block party shooting kills 2, injures 35; victims named
Version 2: The victims have now been named by Fox News, citing the GBI, and Fox added the injured victims' age range, their conditions and the sheriff's account of the gunfire; a CBS News update reported that no arrests have been made so far.
In short
Two men were killed and 35 people were injured when shots were fired at a homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia, at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The Dooly County sheriff said more than 1,000 people had gathered and at least 50 shots were fired from two locations about a block apart. Fox News reported the GBI identified the dead as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, while the county coroner had given their ages as 20 and 23; no suspect, motive or arrest has been announced.
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Two men were killed and 35 people were injured when shots were fired at a homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia, at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. The GBI said Dooly County sheriff's deputies were patrolling the event when the shooting began and found multiple people had been shot. Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, and the injured were taken to several regional hospitals, the bureau said. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy told CBS affiliate WMAZ that more than 1,000 people had gathered along Pine Street for the block party, held to celebrate homecoming. He said at least 50 shots were fired in total at two locations about a block apart, and that some people were hit by cars as drivers scrambled to leave the area. Fox News reported that most of the 35 injured had gunshot wounds while several others were hit by cars or hurt in the rush, and that the GBI put the injured victims' ages at 14 to 51, with conditions ranging from stable to critical. “We don't know if it's coming at us or someone else,” Peavy said at a Sunday press conference, according to Fox News. [ 2 , 9 ]
Fox News reported the GBI identified the two who died as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville. Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls had told CBS News and the New York Post that the two killed were men ages 20 and 23, and NBC News reported he said each had a single gunshot wound. NBC News reported the families had been notified and that an autopsy by the medical examiner's office was scheduled for Friday. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
Authorities have released no information about a possible suspect or a motive. The GBI declined to say whether investigators had determined a motive or identified a suspect, according to NBC News. “The investigation remains active and ongoing. At this time, no additional information is available for release,” Lydia Bullard, the bureau's public affairs specialist, said in a statement to NBC News. Newsweek reported investigators have not said whether multiple shooters may have been involved, and a CBS News summary reported that no arrests had been made so far. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
Dooly County School System Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said the district was “deeply saddened” by the shooting and expressed condolences, noting the event was not sponsored by the district. Fox News reported he said schools would open Monday with additional safety measures. Democratic state Representative Patty Stinson, whose district includes Dooly County, told WMAZ she was “very heartbroken”. Newsweek noted the shooting is among the deadliest mass-casualty incidents reported in Georgia this year. [ 3 , 9 ]
Accounts differ on the geography. The GBI told Newsweek that shots were fired from the 900 block of Pine Street and that those killed were found in the 600 block, while CBS News reported the two who died were found several blocks from where the shooting originated. CBS News placed Vienna about 50 miles south of Macon, Newsweek about 100 miles south of Atlanta and NBC News about two hours south of Atlanta. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
Newsweek described the shooting as among the deadliest mass-casualty incidents reported in Georgia this year, and it drew statements from a state representative and the county school superintendent, whose district said it would add safety measures. With no suspect, motive or arrest announced, the case remains an open investigation led by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation alongside the Dooly County Sheriff's Office.
Key facts
- Two people were killed and 35 others were injured in a shooting at a block party in Vienna, Georgia, at about 1:25 a.m. Sunday. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- Sheriff's deputies were patrolling the event when shots were fired and found multiple people had been shot; two people were pronounced dead at the scene. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said more than 1,000 people had gathered on Pine Street and that at least 50 shots were fired from two locations about a block apart, with some people hit by cars as drivers left. [ 2 , 9 ]
- Fox News reported the GBI said the injured range in age from 14 to 51 and their conditions range from stable to critical. [ 9 ]
- Fox News reported the GBI identified the two killed as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville; the Dooly County coroner had said the men were ages 20 and 23. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls told NBC News each of the dead had a single gunshot wound and that an autopsy was scheduled for Friday. [ 5 ]
- Authorities have not released a suspect or a motive, and the GBI said the investigation remains active and ongoing; CBS News reported no arrests had been made so far. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- Dooly County School System Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said the shooting was not a school-sponsored event, and Fox News reported schools would open Monday with additional safety measures. [ 3 , 9 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Two people were killed and 35 others were injured in a shooting at a block party in Vienna, Georgia, early Sunday. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 6 , 8 , 9 ]
- Shots were fired at about 1:25 a.m. local time. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- Dooly County sheriff's deputies were patrolling the event when the shooting began, and two people were pronounced dead at the scene. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is investigating the shooting alongside the Dooly County Sheriff's Office, which requested its assistance. [ 2 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- Authorities have not released a suspect or a possible motive, and no arrests have been announced. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 8 ]
- More than 1,000 people had gathered for the homecoming block party on Pine Street, the sheriff said. [ 2 , 4 , 9 ]
- Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said at least 50 shots were fired in total at two locations about a block apart, and that some people were hit by cars as drivers scrambled to leave. [ 2 , 9 ]
- Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls said the two people killed were men ages 20 and 23, both pronounced dead at the scene. [ 2 , 4 , 5 ]
Still unclear
- The exact ages of the two men killed. The coroner gave their ages as 20 and 23, while Fox News, citing the GBI, reported ages of 21 and 23; both refer to the same two men found on Pine Street.
- Whether the GBI has formally identified the victims as Jaquevion Jackson and Macaleb Jackson. Fox News attributed the names to the GBI, while CBS News, NBC News and the New York Post reported the dead had not been publicly identified and the Dooly County coroner said only that families had been notified. No document carries a GBI statement naming them.
- Whether more than one person fired, and who they were. Newsweek reported investigators have not said whether multiple shooters may have been involved; the sheriff described gunfire from at least two locations, and no document resolves who fired.
- How many of the 35 injured were hospitalized. CBS News reported that 25 of the injured were hospitalized, citing officials; other documents say only that victims were taken to several regional hospitals or were injured, without giving a number.
- Where exactly the shots were fired and where the victims were found. The GBI told Newsweek shots came from the 900 block of Pine Street and that those killed were found in the 600 block; CBS News said the two who died were found several blocks from where the shooting originated, while the sheriff described two firing locations about a block apart.
- How far Vienna is from nearby cities. CBS News described Vienna as about 50 miles south of Macon, Newsweek as about 100 miles south of Atlanta and NBC News as about two hours south of Atlanta.
- Whether any arrests have been made. Only a CBS News summary reported this, and no other document gives an arrest status.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Shots are fired at a homecoming block party on Pine Street in Vienna, Georgia, while Dooly County sheriff's deputies are patrolling the area, according to the GBI. [ 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , 9 ]
- CBS News publishes its report, citing the GBI, Sheriff Craig Peavy and Coroner Brett Walls, including that more than 1,000 people had gathered and at least 50 shots were fired. [ 2 ]
- Newsweek publishes its report, including comment from school superintendent Sherrod Willaford and state Representative Patty Stinson. [ 3 ]
- The New York Post publishes its report, citing the sheriff and coroner. [ 4 ]
- NBC News reports that the GBI declined to say whether a motive had been determined or a suspect identified, and that an autopsy is scheduled for Friday. [ 5 ]
- UPI publishes its summary of the shooting. [ 6 ]
- CBS News publishes a second report stating that no arrests have been made so far. [ 8 ]
- Fox News publishes its report, including the victims' names, the ages of the injured and the sheriff's account of the shooting. [ 9 ]
- Newsweek reports the following day that the victims have been named. [ 10 ]