Macon park birthday party shooting leaves 12 injured, 2 critical
Mass shooting at birthday party leaves 12 hurt, 2 critical
A total of 12 teenagers, ages 17, 18, and 19, were shot and injured at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon around midnight during an 18th birthday party at the skate park.
BIBB COUNTY, Ga. - Deputies are searching for suspects after a shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon left 12 people injured early Sunday morning.
What we know:
Deputies responded to Carolyn Crayton Park around 12:06 a.m. Sunday after receiving reports of a shooting at a large gathering.
Investigators say a group having a birthday party near the skatepark area exchanged words with a second group across the street.
Both groups pulled out firearms and opened fire on each other.
Emergency notifications alerted deputies that victims were arriving at a local medical facility in personal vehicles.
The victims include four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males, two 18-year-old females, and a 19-year-old male who arrived at the hospital Sunday afternoon.
Medical staff reported that one 18-year-old male and one 17-year-old male were in critical but stable condition, while the other 10 victims are in stable condition.
What happened at the hospital
Victims arrived at a local medical facility in personal vehicles while deputies were on their way to the park, according to the sheriff's office.
A large number of vehicles, along with family and friends of the victims, flooded the area.
Hospital staff taped off the area and placed the emergency room on lockdown.
Deputies towed seven vehicles to the crime lab for further investigation, including four that brought victims to the hospital and three left at the park.
Investigators also brought 10 witnesses to the Criminal Investigation Division for interviews.
12 wounded in mass shooting at Georgia park
A total of 12 teenagers were shot overnight during a gathering near a skate park at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon.
What they're saying:
"This is a horrific situation in our community, and our investigators are working tirelessly," Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said.
Residents expressed concern over the violence at a popular community gathering spot.
"That’s horrible. I bring my kids here almost every day to skate and hang out," said Macon resident Rusty Epps.
Other community members noted that while recent violence in the area has made news of gunfire unoriginal, the location of this incident was unexpected.
"To be honest with you, I wasn’t very surprised with all the shootings that have been happening around Macon lately, so I wasn’t shocked," Macon resident Tony Arnold said.
Arnold added that accountability extends beyond those directly involved in the gunfire.
"I would say it all starts at home, in my opinion, so I think it falls back on the parents to know where your kids are at all times," Arnold said.
Park visitors also called for an increased law enforcement presence in the area, noting that officers are rarely seen patrolling the grounds.
"Drive through every once in a while and scope it out; we are out here every day and never see an officer ride through," one resident said.
"We need to figure something out to kind of curtail the violence that’s been going on lately," Arnold said.
What we don't know:
Bibb County Sheriff's Office officials have not yet identified any suspects or made any arrests in connection with the gunfire.
Investigators have not disclosed what argument sparked the confrontation between the two groups.
What you can do:
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500.
Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
The Source: The information in this story was gathered from the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office, who provided details in a press release.