A homecoming celebration in Vienna, Georgia, turned deadly early Sunday when gunfire broke out at a crowded neighborhood block party, leaving two men dead and 35 people injured.
The shooting happened around 1:25 a.m. Oct. 4 on Pine Street, where more than 1,000 people had gathered for the event. Deputies with the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office were already patrolling the area when they heard gunfire and moved toward the scene.
Investigators said shots were fired near the 900 block of Pine Street. When deputies arrived, they found multiple people suffering from gunshot wounds. The two men who died were found several blocks away in the 600 block of Pine Street and were pronounced dead at the scene.
The victims were taken to several hospitals across the region. Crisp Regional Hospital said 26 patients were brought there following the shooting, underscoring the scale of the emergency response.
Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said the gathering had drawn more than 1,000 people for a homecoming celebration. He also said at least 50 shots were fired from two locations roughly a block apart. As people tried to get away from the gunfire, some were also struck by vehicles, according to local officials.
The two people killed were men ages 20 and 23, according to Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls. Their identities have not been publicly released. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s Medical Examiner’s Office is conducting autopsies as part of the investigation.
The shooting was not limited to a single point. Investigators said gunfire was reported at separate locations along Pine Street, creating a chaotic scene as people attempted to leave the area.
No suspect has been publicly identified, and authorities have not announced a motive. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is assisting the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office, and the case remains active and ongoing. Investigators are asking anyone with information to come forward.
The violence has also affected the wider Dooly County community. The local school system activated crisis-support teams following the shooting to provide assistance in the aftermath of the incident.
Vienna is the county seat of Dooly County and is located roughly 50 miles south of Macon. Authorities are continuing to work to determine what led to the gunfire and who was responsible.
