Twelve teenagers wounded after gunfire erupts at Georgia birthday party

Twelve teenagers were wounded when two groups exchanged gunfire during a birthday party at a park in Macon, Georgia, early Sunday, according to Bibb County Sheriff David Davis. Two of those injured were in critical condition, while the others were reported to be stable. The shooting happened shortly after midnight at Carolyn Crayton Park.

Davis said a group of young people had gone there to celebrate a woman’s 18th birthday after being removed several hours earlier from a rented house where the party had begun. Another group later arrived at the park, where a confrontation developed. According to the sheriff, the groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and then began shooting at each other.

Investigators were still working to establish how the groups were connected and what caused the dispute. Surveillance footage showed gunfire lasting about 30 seconds as people ran from the area, Davis said. Deputies who responded found that victims had already been taken to a nearby hospital in private vehicles rather than by emergency services.

Those treated included one 19-year-old male, four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females. Davis said there was no indication at that stage that any of the injured people had taken part in the shooting. No arrests had been announced immediately.

Investigators had identified several people of interest, interviewed 10 witnesses and impounded four vehicles used to transport victims to hospital, as well as three vehicles left at the park. Davis said police would maintain a substantial presence in some locations in the coming days as investigators pursued arrests. The sheriff did not provide a motive or say how many firearms were involved.