A total of 12 teenagers were shot overnight during a gathering near a skate park at Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Georgia. (WAGA)
Big picture view:
The shooting happened just after midnight Sunday inside Carolyn Crayton Park in Macon, Georgia, about an hour and a half southeast of Atlanta, when a group celebrating a birthday party exchanged fire with a second group across the street, authorities said.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office confirmed that four 18-year-old men, five 17-year-old boys, and two 18-year-old women were among the victims. Hospital workers indicated that two of the victims were in critical condition, while the other nine had been stabilized.
Hectic scene at hospital
As first responders raced to the scene of the shooting, the first victims began arriving at a local medical facility in personal vehicles. Soon, a large number of vehicles, along with friends and family of the victims, flooded the area around the facility, FOX5 Atlanta reported.
Hospital staff ended up taping off the area and initiating a lockdown for the emergency room.
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What’s next:
The investigation into the shooting is underway. The Sheriff’s Office reported that seven vehicles, including four that were used to bring victims to the hospital and three that were still at the park, were sent to the crime lab.
Ten potential witnesses were also identified and taken to the Criminal Investigation Division for interviews. The Sheriff’s Office has not released the names of anyone involved or information on who may have fired first.
Local perspective:
Investigators are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office at 478-751-7500. Tips can also be submitted anonymously to Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
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