Georgia Block Party Shooting Kills 2, Injures 35 in Vienna

Two people were killed and 35 others were injured after gunfire erupted at a neighborhood block party in Vienna, Georgia, early Sunday, according to investigators. Authorities said the violence unfolded as a large crowd gathered in the South Georgia city during Dooly County High School homecoming weekend, turning what had been a busy community gathering into a chaotic crime scene.

Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said more than 1,000 people were at the event when more than 50 shots were fired in at least two locations about a block apart. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation said deputies were already patrolling near the gathering when shots were reported around 1:25 a.m. in the 900 block of Pine Street. The sheriff’s office later requested assistance from the GBI as the investigation expanded.

Officials said two victims died at the scene from gunshot wounds. The GBI identified them as 21-year-old Jaquevion Jackson of Cordele and 23-year-old Macaleb Jackson of Hawkinsville. Investigators said the 35 injured victims were taken to hospitals for treatment. Most suffered gunshot wounds, while others were hurt after being struck by vehicles or injured in other ways as people tried to flee.

The age range of the injured victims underscores how widely the shooting affected the crowd. According to the GBI, those hurt range from 14 to 51 years old, and their conditions vary from stable to critical. The mix of teenagers and adults among the victims has added to concern across the area, especially because the gathering happened during a high school homecoming weekend.

Scene unfolded in multiple locations

Peavy described a fast-moving and dangerous response as officers tried to regain control. He said people were “going every direction,” and while deputies were responding to the first gunfire, additional shots broke out roughly a block away. Speaking at a Sunday press conference, the sheriff said officers could not immediately determine whether the gunfire was directed at law enforcement or at others nearby, forcing them to operate under highly uncertain conditions.

Investigators have not announced any arrests, identified a motive, or said how many shooters may have been involved. With reports of gunfire in more than one location and a large number of witnesses fleeing in panic, authorities are likely sorting through statements and physical evidence to establish a clearer timeline of what happened.

Questions about the event

Although the shooting took place during Dooly County High School’s homecoming weekend, school officials said the block party was not connected to the district. Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said in a statement that it was not a school-sponsored event, while acknowledging that students, staff, and families may still feel the impact. He said schools would open Monday with additional safety measures in place.

Vienna Mayor Eddie Daniels said the city had not issued a permit for the block party. He also said he did not know whether the gathering had been specifically planned as a homecoming party. Those comments raised further questions about how such a large event was organized and monitored before the shooting began.

Peavy urged those responsible to turn themselves in, saying investigators are doing everything possible to identify them. The case remains under investigation, and officials have not released further information about suspects or what led to the gunfire. Vienna is about 130 miles south of Atlanta and roughly 50 miles south of Macon along the Interstate 75 corridor. The shooting comes soon after another mass shooting in Macon in which 12 teenagers were wounded during a confrontation at a birthday party in a city park.