Investigators said gunfire erupted near Pine Street in Vienna as more than 1,000 people gathered during homecoming weekend.
VIENNA, Ga. — Two people were killed and 35 others were injured early Sunday when gunfire broke out at a crowded neighborhood block party during homecoming weekend in this small south Georgia city, according to the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.
The shooting began at about 1:25 a.m. Oct. 4 as Dooly County sheriff’s deputies patrolled near a gathering in the 900 block of Pine Street, the GBI said. Deputies heard shots and responded, finding multiple people who had been wounded. Two people were found several blocks away in the 600 block of Pine Street and were pronounced dead at the scene. Victims were taken to several regional hospitals for treatment.
Dooly County Sheriff Craig Peavy said more than 1,000 people were gathered in the area for the block party. He told news organizations that more than 50 shots were fired at at least two locations about a block apart. Authorities were still working Sunday night to determine how many people fired weapons and what led to the violence.
The two men who died were later identified by local authorities as Jaquevion Jackson, 21, of Cordele, and Macaleb Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville. The GBI said the bodies would be taken to its Medical Examiner’s Office for autopsies. Officials have not announced whether the two men were targeted or caught in the gunfire, and investigators have not publicly identified any suspect or established a motive.
Officials said the number of injured included people who suffered gunshot wounds as well as others hurt while fleeing the crowded area. Some people were struck by vehicles as drivers and pedestrians tried to escape, according to local officials cited by news organizations. The injured ranged widely in age, and some remained in serious or critical condition Sunday. Authorities have not released a complete list of victims or detailed medical conditions.
The gathering took place during homecoming weekend for Dooly County High School, but school officials stressed that the block party was not a school-sponsored event. The high school had held its official homecoming dance Saturday evening at the school cafeteria. Superintendent Sherrod Willaford said the district recognized that the shooting could affect students, families and staff even though the overnight gathering was separate from school activities.
Dooly County schools were preparing to open Monday with additional safety measures and crisis support available, according to the district. School officials asked the community to avoid spreading unverified names and graphic images as families dealt with the aftermath. The shooting left the small community confronting an unusually large emergency involving dozens of victims and multiple hospitals across the region.
Law enforcement officers from several agencies responded as the scale of the shooting became clear. The GBI joined the investigation at the request of the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators were interviewing witnesses, processing the scene and reviewing evidence as they tried to identify whoever was responsible. Peavy said deputies were already near the event because of the size of the crowd when the first gunfire began.
The GBI’s initial account said deputies immediately responded after shots were fired from the 900 block of Pine Street. The two people who died were found in the 600 block, illustrating the distance over which the incident unfolded. Officials described a chaotic scene as people ran from the area and emergency crews worked to reach the wounded while officers tried to determine where additional shots were coming from.
Authorities had announced no arrests as of Sunday night and had not disclosed a suspected motive. The GBI said the investigation remained active and ongoing. Once investigators complete their work, the agency said the case file will be provided to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.
Author note: Last updated October 4, 2026.