Two people were killed and 35 others were injured when gunfire broke out around 1:25 a.m. at a Vienna, Georgia, homecoming block party. Authorities say shots were fired from the 900 block of Pine Street and the two deceased were found in the 600 block; identities have not been released. Sheriff Craig Peavy said more than 1,000 people attended and deputies estimated at least 50 shots were fired. The GBI is leading an active investigation and urged witnesses to contact its Perry office.
Mass Shooting at Vienna, Georgia Homecoming Block Party Kills 2, Injures 35
A police tape is seen in Austin, Texas, on September 20. |Photo by RONALDO SCHEMIDT / AFP via Getty Images
Two people were killed and 35 others wounded after gunfire erupted during a homecoming block party in Vienna, a small city in Dooly County, Georgia, in the early hours of Sunday, the Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) said.
The shooting occurred at about 1:25 a.m. as families and students gathered for homecoming weekend. According to the GBI, deputies from the Dooly County Sheriff's Office were patrolling the event when shots were fired from the 900 block of Pine Street. The two people who died were found in the 600 block of Pine Street and were pronounced dead at the scene; authorities have not released their identities.
Details From Officials
Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy told local media that more than 1,000 people attended the block party and that deputies estimated at least 50 shots were fired. He said officers responded immediately after gunfire began. The sheriff also reported that some injuries happened as people fled the area, and several victims were reportedly struck by vehicles amid the chaos. Wounded people were taken to several regional hospitals for treatment.
The victims' remains will be transported to the GBI Medical Examiner's Office for autopsies, and the GBI said the investigation is "active and ongoing." Investigators have not disclosed a motive, named any suspects or confirmed whether multiple shooters were involved. The GBI urged anyone with information to contact its Regional Investigative Office in Perry. When the probe concludes, the case will be forwarded to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney's Office for review and potential prosecution.
"It was very heartbreaking to wake up this morning to learn that a mass shooting took place in Vienna," Democratic state Representative Patty Stinson, whose district includes Dooly County, told WMAZ. "I'm so sorry this has happened to all of these families who have been affected."
Context
The Gun Violence Archive defines a mass shooting as an incident in which four or more people are shot, not including the shooter. This attack ranks among the deadliest mass-casualty incidents reported in Georgia this year and underscores ongoing concerns about gun violence at large public gatherings nationwide.
What authorities are asking: Anyone with information is asked to contact the GBI's Regional Investigative Office in Perry. The investigation remains ongoing.
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