2 dead, 35 injured in shooting at homecoming block party in Georgia

Authorities in Georgia are actively searching for a suspect behind a mass shooting that claimed two lives and left 35 others injured. The incident occurred on Sunday morning around 01:30 local time (05:30 GMT) during a block party in Vienna, a southern rural community. Approximately 1,000 people were present when gunfire erupted, with over 50 shots reportedly fired.

Two victims succumbed to their injuries at the scene, while 25 were rushed to various hospitals, some in critical condition. The ages of those killed ranged from 14 to 51, and no arrests have been made as of yet, with the motive for the violence remaining unknown. The event was not sponsored by Dooly High School, despite taking place near the school.

Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy stated that authorities were already in position to handle a large gathering when the shooting occurred. Sheriff Peavy recounted that some individuals reported fireworks, followed by reports of someone being shot. As people scattered in different directions, authorities navigated through the crowd towards the victims.

Ashley Gee, a witness, described the gunfire as sounding like a machine gun. The two deceased were identified as men, aged 20 and 23, found several blocks away from the initial shooting location on Pine Street. The Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Medical Examiner's Office will perform autopsies on both victims, and the bureau will collaborate with the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office on the ongoing investigation.