Twelve people ages 17 to 19 were shot early Sunday at a birthday gathering in Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Georgia, the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office said. Two were listed in critical but stable condition Sunday and the others were stable, WGXA reported. No arrests had been announced as of Sunday’s news conference.
What happened and where
The Macon-Bibb Emergency 911 Center got a call at 12:06 a.m. Sunday, 41NBC reported; WGXA reported the call was about gunfire near the skate park area. The gathering was a birthday party for an 18-year-old girl that had moved there after an Airbnb owner in Jones County told the group to leave over firearms, 41NBC and 13WMAZ reported. A second group arrived across the street, 13WMAZ and WGXA reported. Several victims reached a hospital in personal vehicles, and the emergency room was briefly locked down because of the number of vehicles, relatives and friends arriving, WGXA reported. Sheriff David Davis said a permitted high school reunion held earlier at the park was not involved, 13WMAZ reported.
Why the count changed from 11 to 12
The sheriff’s office’s first release counted 11 victims: four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females, 41NBC reported. At 12:24 p.m. Sunday, E-911 was notified that a 19-year-old man had arrived at a local medical facility with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound; investigators tied him to the park shooting, 41NBC and WGXA reported; around 5 p.m. Sunday the sheriff’s office put the total at 12, 13WMAZ reported. Early reports of 11 predated that link. No victims have been named.
Where the investigation stands
Investigators found shell casings indicating multiple weapons; Davis said the number of shots had not been determined and that he believed semi-automatic and automatic weapons were involved, 41NBC reported. Seven vehicles were taken to the crime lab — four that had carried victims to the hospital and three left at the park — and 10 witnesses were taken in for interviews; students from Central and Northeast high schools and VIP and SOAR academies were also among those involved, WGXA and 13WMAZ reported. Davis said investigators were still looking at whether the shooting was gang-related, school-related or the result of an interpersonal conflict, 13WMAZ reported.
What’s still unknown
Accounts differ on who fired first. 41NBC reported that Davis said another group arrived and opened fire and that people in the original group fired back, but that there was no evidence at this time any of the injured had fired shots. WGXA, citing the sheriff’s office, reported that the groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and then began shooting at each other. 13WMAZ reported that the two sides exchanged words, and then gunfire erupted. The cause and the shot count remain undetermined.
What officials said
Davis said at the news conference, “If we can charge any adult in connection with this, we’re gonna do that too,” WGXA reported. He said juvenile suspects’ charging as adults would be up to the district attorney, whose decision he would support, 41NBC reported. Davis also said, “They need to pray for our community,” and added, “put down the guns, be helpful to each other instead of hurtful to each other,” WGXA reported.
Macon Mayor Lester Miller told WGXA he believes Macon is “a very safe community,” but that someone in a dark area at 2 a.m. “when people may be doing drugs” could become a victim. “And again, if you’re participating or you’re attending an illegal activity after midnight, which you know or should know that there’s guns there, you may find yourself a victim, in that case,” he said. “For your average citizens who are minding their own business and doing the right things, I think they’re a relatively safe community.”
How to reach investigators
Anyone with information should contact the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500 or 478-310-5112, or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME, 13WMAZ reported.