Mass shooting at Georgia block party leaves 2 dead, 35 injured
Two Killed and Dozens Hurt in Vienna, Georgia, Block‑Party Mass Shooting
A chaotic early‑morning shooting at a neighborhood block party in Vienna, Georgia, left two people dead and at least 35 injured, officials said Sunday.
Deputies from the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling the block party at about 1:25 a.m. when the first shots rang out on the 900 block of Pine Street. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) confirmed that more than 50 bullets were fired from at least two separate locations roughly a block apart.
“People are going every direction,” Sheriff Craig Peavy told reporters at a press conference. “We don’t know if it’s coming at us or someone else. You just have to keep doing what you’re doing and hope you don’t get hit by gunfire.” He urged anyone involved to turn themselves in, saying the investigation was underway but no suspects had yet been identified.
The GBI identified the two victims who died at the scene as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville. Seventeen other people were taken to hospitals for treatment, with the injuries ranging from stable to critical. The ages of the injured victims span from 14 to 51.
In addition to gunshot wounds, several injured partygoers sustained other injuries while fleeing the scene, including being struck by cars. The total number of those hurt was reported as 35.
The shooting occurred during the homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School, though the event was not an official school gathering. “We recognize that its impact may reach many of our students, families, and staff,” Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said in a statement. “Schools will open on Monday, but additional safety measures have been implemented.”
City officials confirmed that the block party had not received an official permit. Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said he did not know whether the gathering was a homecoming celebration. “The city had not issued any kind of permit for the block party,” Daniels noted.
No arrests have been made, and authorities have not yet identified a motive or the number of shooters involved. “Please turn yourself in, because we’re doing everything we can to find out who you are,” Sheriff Peavy repeated.
The incident has drawn comparisons to other recent shootings in Georgia. A week earlier, a birthday party in a city park south of Macon left 12 teenagers wounded, and a separate event near a Baltimore youth football game resulted in a 12‑year‑old’s death and three adults injured. Vienna sits about 130 miles south of Atlanta and 50 miles south of Macon along the Interstate 75 corridor.
The investigation continues, with the GBI and Dooly County Police coordinating efforts. The city of Vienna is working with state agencies to assess security measures for future community events. The community mourns the loss of two young lives amid an ongoing search for answers.
