Birthday celebration goes awry in Georgia: 12 people injured in mass shooting in park; details | Today’s news
At least 12 people were injured after two groups of people opened fire on each other during a birthday party at a city park in Georgia, a sheriff said Sunday (local time).
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said during a press conference that the shooting happened overnight Saturday into Sunday at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, about 85 miles (135 kilometers) southeast of Atlanta, the AP reported.
Here’s what we know
According to Davis, after a group of youths were kicked out of a house rented for a woman’s 18th birthday party, they went to a park, then another group showed up and a confrontation ensued.
The sheriff added: “The two groups exchanged words, brandished firearms and then started shooting at each other.” According to the report, investigators have yet to determine how the two groups were related and what the motive was for the shooting.
Officers responded to the shooting and learned that the victims had been transported to a nearby hospital in private vehicles. The injured included a 19-year-old man, four 18-year-old men, five 17-year-old men and two 18-year-old women who were treated for injuries. While two were in critical condition, the others were said to be stable.
Citing Davis, CBS News reported that the group included several students from Central High School and Northeast High School. All of the victims were part of a party, with the sheriff saying he “can’t remember the last time we had so many people shot at once.”
Davis said, “There is no indication that any of these individuals who were injured at this time were involved in the shooting.” He added: “There will be a heavy police presence in some locations over the next few days as we make arrests in this case.”
Surveillance footage from the park revealed a burst of gunfire that lasted 30 seconds as people tried to flee the area.
While no arrests have been made yet, the sheriff said investigators have identified several persons of interest. Deputies seized four vehicles used to transport the victims to the hospital and three vehicles that remained in the park. Investigators also spoke with 10 witnesses.
According to CBS News, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is reportedly assisting in the investigation because so many people are involved. Still, Davis said all evidence so far points to the incident being local.
Another shooting was reported in Detroit
Meanwhile, authorities in Detroit were investigating a separate shooting incident that happened around the same time. At least three people were killed and four others were injured after an argument turned ugly and led to a shooting at an after-hours strip club on Sunday morning.
Detroit Police Chief Todd Bettison told reporters at a news conference that police responded to a shooting at 7:21 a.m. on a mostly residential street where three men were found fatally shot.
