Eleven teenagers were wounded in a late-night shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park skatepark in Macon, Georgia. Two victims, ages 17 and 18, remained in critical but stable condition while the other nine were hospitalized in stable condition. Authorities say rival teen groups exchanged words, brandished firearms and then opened fire shortly after midnight; seven personal vehicles were impounded for forensic examination. No arrests had been reported, and Sheriff David Davis suggested some adults or guardians may have known minors possessed the weapons.
11 Teens Wounded in Late-Night Shooting at Macon Skatepark; Sheriff Says Adults May Have Known About Guns
A mass shootout involving two groups of teenagers resulted in 11 injuries early Sunday at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Ga., sheriff's authorities said. Photo Courtesy Macon-Bibb County Government
Eleven teenagers were wounded in a late-night shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park skatepark in Macon, Georgia, sheriff's officials said Sunday.
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis told reporters the incident occurred shortly after midnight and left two victims — ages 17 and 18 — in critical but stable condition following gunshot wounds. The nine other victims were hospitalized in stable condition.
Authorities said the injured included four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females. Deputies were called to the skatepark at 12:06 a.m. EDT after reports of gunfire at a large gathering.
Early indications suggest the violence began when a group of teens partying near the skatepark was approached by another group from across the street. According to Sheriff Davis, 'Both groups exchanged words, brandished firearms and then began firing at each other.'
While deputies were en route, several injured people began arriving at a local hospital in private vehicles. The emergency room was temporarily placed on lockdown. Seven personal vehicles — including four that transported victims to the hospital — were impounded and taken to the crime lab for forensic examination.
Davis said no arrests had been reported as of Sunday and confirmed the victims attend multiple local high schools. The sheriff expressed alarm that minors were armed and suggested some adults or guardians may have known about the weapons:
I'm thinking, when we find out who did this — and we're going to find out who did it — I'll guarantee you there's some adult loved ones or some guardians who knew they had guns. Not a doubt in my mind. If we can charge any adult in connection with this, we're going to do that, too.
He added: 'The good news is that these 11 individuals here, they're not dead, and we hope that they continue to recover.' Sheriff Davis urged the community to pray for the victims and their families.
Officials asked anyone with information to contact the Bibb County Sheriff's Office at 478-751-7500 or 478-310-5112, or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
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