The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after 12 people were shot during a large gathering early Sunday morning at Carolyn Crayton Park.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office is investigating after 12 people were shot during a large gathering early Sunday morning at Carolyn Crayton Park.
Authorities initially reported 11 victims. At 12:24 p.m. Sunday, Macon-Bibb E-911 was notified that a 19-year-old man had arrived at a local medical facility with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Investigators determined he was injured during the park shooting, bringing the total to 12 victims. He is listed in stable condition.
Deputies were called to the park around 12:06 a.m. after reports of gunfire near the skatepark area. Investigators say one group was already gathered there for a party when another group arrived across the street.
According to the sheriff’s office, the groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and then began shooting at each other.
Authorities say the victims include four 18-year-old males, one 19-year-old male, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females. One 18-year-old male and one 17-year-old male were listed in critical but stable condition Sunday morning. The remaining victims were reported stable.
At a press conference on Sunday, Sheriff David Davis addressed the media. He said that the gathering, while without a permit, apparently moved to the park after those gathered were asked to leave a previously determined location in Jones County earlier. Davis said the group involved students from Central & Northeast High Schools, as well as VIP and SOAR Academies.
Davis made it clear they are going to find out who is responsible, saying "I'm gonna tell you what's the truth. I'm thinking. When we find out who did this and we're gonna find out who did it, I'll guarantee you there's some adult loved ones or some guardians and knew they had guns. Not a doubt in my mind. If we can charge any adult in connection with this, we're gonna do that too, in this. So, we just hope the good news is that these 11 individuals here, the good news is that they're not dead, and we hope that the good news continues to be that they continue to recover, and that we pray for them, and that them and their families can find some comfort through all of this."
When asked for a message to the community, Sheriff Davis added, "I'm gonna tell the community, first they need to pray for these victims. They need to pray for our community. They need to pray for these individuals who are engaged in this violence. to ask for a change in their heart. And as for them to change their ways, put down the guns, be helpful to each other instead of hurtful to each other."
WGXA News talked with Macon Mayor Lester Miller shortly after the press conference. Mayor Miller said, overall, he believes Macon-Bibb County to be a safe place to live. "Well, I always tell people, you know, you always got to be vigilant yourself. I think Macon is a very safe community, but I think if you happen to come to a particular area that's dark and not well be at 2 o'clock in the morning when people may be doing drugs, there's a chance you may be a victim. And again, if you're participating or you're attending an illegal activity after midnight, which you know or should know that there's guns there, you may find yourself a victim, in that case. For your average citizens who are minding their own business and doing the right things, I think they're a relatively safe community," said Miller.
Several victims were driven to a local hospital in personal vehicles. The sheriff’s office says the emergency room was temporarily placed on lockdown because of the number of vehicles, relatives and friends arriving at the hospital.
Investigators took seven vehicles to the crime lab for examination — four used to transport victims to the hospital and three left at the park. Ten witnesses were also taken to the Criminal Investigation Division for interviews.
No arrests have been announced. The investigation remains active.
Anyone with information is asked 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.
Sheriff David Davis Press Conference:
