Two people were killed and 35 others injured when gunfire erupted at a crowded homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia, in the early hours of Sunday, October 4. More than 1,000 people had gathered for the celebration when more than 50 shots were fired across two nearby locations, turning the festive weekend into a mass-casualty scene.
Dooly County sheriff’s deputies were already patrolling the area when the shooting began around 1:25 a.m. on the 900 block of Pine Street. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has taken over the probe, but no arrests have been announced and no motive has been identified.
FAKTA
- What happened: Gunfire at a homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia, early Sunday, October 4
- Casualties: 2 dead, 35 injured
- The dead: Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele; Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville
- Time: Around 1:25 a.m. on the 900 block of Pine Street
- Crowd size: More than 1,000 people; deputies were on patrol when shots rang out
- Investigation: GBI assisting Dooly County Sheriff’s Office; no arrests, no motive announced
The Georgia homecoming shooting: what happened in Vienna
According to the GBI and Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy, the shooting unfolded at a neighborhood block party stretching across several blocks in Vienna, a small rural community about 210 kilometres south of Atlanta. Deputies heard shots ring out at about 1:25 a.m. while patrolling and raced to the 900 block of Pine Street, where they found multiple people already hit by gunfire.
Shots were fired at at least two locations roughly a block apart. Even after deputies had responded to the initial gunfire, a second round of shots could be heard about a block away. Two of the wounded men, aged 20 and 23, were later found dead in the 600 block of Pine Street. The remaining 35 injured victims, aged between 14 and 51, were taken to several regional hospitals — some in critical condition, others stable.
Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls, who attended the scene, said dozens of people had been struck by bullets while around a dozen others were hurt as they fled the panicked crowd. “This is not supposed to happen in a small town like that,” Walls told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
Investigation continues, no arrests made
The Dooly County Sheriff’s Office has requested help from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, which says the investigation is “active and ongoing.” GBI Director Chris Hosey said some of the injured suffered gunshot wounds but could not confirm how many. Authorities have not identified a suspect, a possible motive, or the weapon used, and have urged anyone with information to come forward or submit an anonymous tip.
The GBI Medical Examiner’s Office will perform autopsies on both men killed. Once investigators complete their work, the case file is expected to be submitted to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution. The GBI is also working to establish whether the gunfire at the different locations was part of the same confrontation and what triggered the violence.
Community mourns as schools reopen
The shooting occurred during homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School, but it was not a school-sponsored event, school superintendent Sherrod Willaford said. “We recognise that its impact may reach many of our students, families, and staff,” he said in a statement. Schools reopened Monday with additional safety measures in place.
On Sunday morning, around 100 residents gathered for an impromptu prayer vigil at the courthouse in Vienna. Sheriff Peavy described the incident as a “senseless act of violence” and urged anyone involved to surrender.
For more developing coverage of major world events, see Watan News World coverage.
