Twelve people were shot when two groups opened fire on one another during an 18th birthday celebration in a park in Georgia, a sheriff confirmed on Sunday. The shooting occurred in the early hours of Sunday morning (September 27), just after midnight local time, at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Bibb County.
Birthday celebration turns violent
Sheriff David Davis revealed at a press conference that a group of young people had gathered at the park to mark a woman's 18th birthday, having been ejected from a privately rented holiday property several hours earlier. At some point during the evening, a second group arrived at the park and a confrontation ensued.
Davis explained: "Both groups exchanged words, brandished firearms and then began firing at each other." Investigators were still working to establish the connection between the two groups and what had sparked the hostilities.
Victims and injuries
CCTV footage from the park captured a burst of gunfire lasting approximately 30 seconds as panicked bystanders fled the scene. Deputies rushed to the park and discovered that victims had already been rushed to a nearby hospital in private vehicles.
One 19-year-old male, four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females were all treated for their injuries. Two of those wounded were listed in a critical condition, while the remainder were said to be stable.
"There's no indication that any of these individuals who were injured at this time participated in the gunfire," Davis said.
Investigation and aftermath
No arrests were made immediately, though the sheriff confirmed investigators had identified several persons of interest. Officers seized four vehicles which had transported victims to hospital and three abandoned at the park. They also took statements from 10 witnesses.
"There's going to be some heavy police presences in some places coming up over the next few days as we make some arrests in this," Davis said. Meanwhile, on Sunday morning, police in Detroit attended an after-hours strip club where a dispute escalated into gunfire, leaving three dead and four injured. No arrests were announced straight away.
