Manhunt Underway After Georgia Block Party Mass Shooting Leaves Two Dead, 35 Injured
Key Takeaways
- Two men aged 20 and 23 were killed and 35 others injured in a mass shooting in Vienna, Georgia.
- More than 50 shots were fired into a crowd of around 1,000 people at an unsanctioned homecoming block party.
- No arrests have been made as the Georgia Bureau of Investigation joins local authorities in a manhunt.
Law enforcement officials in the US state of Georgia have launched a widespread manhunt for suspects following a mass shooting that left two people dead and 35 others injured during an outdoor gathering. The gunfire erupted early Sunday around 01:30 local time (05:30 GMT) in the rural southern community of Vienna, where approximately 1,000 people had gathered for an unofficial block party following Dooly County High School's homecoming celebrations.
According to investigators, more than 50 rounds were discharged into the densely packed crowd, triggering widespread panic as attendees scrambled for cover. Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls confirmed that the two deceased victims were young men aged 20 and 23, found several blocks away on Pine Street. Emergency responders transported 25 people to regional medical centers, including several individuals listed in critical condition, with victims' ages spanning from 14 to 51. Eyewitness Ashley Gee described the rapid barrage of bullets to local media as sounding "like a machine gun."
Deputies from the Dooly County Sheriff's Office were already stationed at perimeter points due to the large crowd size when the shooting began. "Some people were reporting fireworks and then someone said somebody been shot," Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy stated, explaining that officers immediately pushed through the dispersing crowd to administer first aid. Dooly County High School issued a public statement clarifying that while the gathering coincided with homecoming weekend, it was not a sanctioned school event, extending condolences to the victims and families affected.
As of Sunday, no suspects have been detained, and investigators have not established a motive behind the incident. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) has formally joined the probe at the request of local authorities, taking charge of ballistics processing and scheduling autopsies through its Medical Examiner's Office. Law enforcement described the investigation as active and ongoing, urging anyone with video footage or relevant information to assist authorities.
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