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Georgia officials have launched a manhunt for the suspect in a shooting that killed two and injured 35 during a crowded block party in the rural town of Vienna. The incident unfolded around 1:25 a.m. on October 4 when more than 50 rounds were fired into a gathering of approximately 1,000 people celebrating Dooly County High School’s homecoming, although the event was not officially school-sanctioned, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Deputies from the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office were patrolling the area at the time and rushed to the scene on Pine Street where they discovered multiple victims.
The two men killed were identified as Ja’Quavion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville by Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy in a news conference. Both died from gunshot wounds and were found a few blocks away from the primary site of the gunfire, the Dooly County Coroner Brett Walls informed reporters from various news organizations including CBS News. Autopsies are scheduled to be performed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigations Medical Examiner’s Office.
In addition to the fatalities, 35 people between the ages of 14 and 51 were wounded, with most suffering gunshot injuries while others were struck by vehicles as panicked partygoers fled the area in all directions. Hospitals in the region received the injured, some of whom were in critical condition, a situation detailed in reports from Reuters and local television stations. The chaos continued even after initial responders arrived, with additional shots heard nearby, complicating the immediate aftermath.
No suspect has been named and authorities have not established a motive for the violence, as stated by Chris Hosey, director of the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. “We don’t want to presume as to what caused it,” Hosey said, noting that the priority is to collect as much information as possible from witnesses. The bureau has mobilized six investigative units to support the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office in what officials described as an ongoing and active case.
Dooly County High School released a statement saying, “Our hearts are with the families grieving the loss of loved ones, those who were injured, and everyone affected by this tragedy.” Although the celebration was tied to the school’s homecoming week, administrators stressed it was not an official function. The shooting has left the small southern Georgia community reeling, with residents expressing shock over the violence at what was intended as a festive occasion.
Investigators continue to interview witnesses and follow leads while urging anyone with information to come forward, according to statements from the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Sheriff Peavy has called for the responsible party to surrender, promising to seek justice for the victims’ families. The Gun Violence Archive listed the Vienna shooting among multiple mass shootings recorded in Georgia this year, part of a national total exceeding 350 such incidents by the beginning of October.
