DOOLY COUNTY, Ga. — A homecoming block party ended in tragedy when two people were killed and 35 others were hurt in a mass shooting on Sunday.
The Dooly County Sheriff’s Office and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation are working to find out what led to the violence and who’s responsible.
Dooly County is around 2 hours south of Atlanta and 1 hour south of Macon.
“This is home, you know, I’ve been doing this 42 years. I’ve had a lot of cases, I’ve been on a lot bad situations. And I think by far, this is the one that just caught me off guard. You just don’t prepare for this,” Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said.
Here is what we know about the victims so far.
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GBI IDENTIFIES VICTIMS KILLED
The GBI released the names of the two men who died in the shooting: Ja’Quavion Jackson, a 21-year-old from Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, a 23-year-old from Hawkinsville.
Their bodies will be taken to the GBI Medical Examiner’s Office for an autopsy.
“We feel for the families and I give the families my word that we’re gonna pursue and try to have justice for them,” Peavy said.
MOST OF THOSE INJURED WERE SHOT
An additional 35 people were taken to various hospitals for their injuries. Investigators say the majority of the victims were shot, but did not specify how many. Some people were hit by cars as they were trying to run.
“You didn’t know where it was coming from. Multiple victims. It was a learning experience for us, and there’s just hardly no way to, to know how to operate when something like that happens on scene,” the sheriff said.
The victims’ ages range from 14 to 51 years old. Their conditions range from critical to stable.
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SCHOOL SYSTEM OFFERS SUPPORT
The Dooly County School System says it will take “proactive safety measures” on Monday in wake of the shooting. It has also activated its crisis support teams.
“While the gathering where the incident occurred was not a school-sponsored event, we recognize that its impact may reach many of our students, families, and staff. Student and staff safety remain our highest priority,” Superintendent Dr. Sherrod D. Willaford said.
Willaford also encourages families to check up on each other in the coming days and weeks.
“A caring conversation, a listening ear, and continued support can make a meaningful difference,” he said.