Five Northeast High School (Macon) football players are reportedly among the teenagers injured in a shooting at a Macon park, according to a social media post associated with the school's Class of 2027.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office has confirmed that students from Northeast High School were among a group attending a gathering at Carolyn Crayton Park when gunfire broke out early Sunday, Sept. 27. Authorities have not publicly released a list of the victims' names.
The social mediapost identified five Northeast students and asked the community to keep them in their prayers.
Football roster records show the five students have been part of the Northeast Raiders football program, although the sheriff's office has not independently confirmed that each of the five was among those shot.
What happened in Macon?
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office said deputies were called to Carolyn Crayton Park shortly after midnight Sunday after receiving a report of gunfire at a large gathering.
According to investigators, two groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and began shooting at one another near a skatepark area.
As deputies were responding, several people who had been injured were taken to a local medical facility in private vehicles.
The initial investigation identified 11 victims: four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females. Two of those victims, a 17-year-old boy and an 18-year-old male, were initially listed in critical but stable condition, while the others were stable.
The number of victims has since risen to 12
The sheriff's office later identified an additional victim.
A 19-year-old male arrived at a local medical facility at 12:24 p.m. Sunday with a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. Investigators determined he had also been shot during the Carolyn Crayton Park incident.
That brought the total number of victims to 12. The 19-year-old was listed in stable condition.
The sheriff's office said the investigation remains active.
What does the sheriff's office say about the victims?
Sheriff David Davis said there is no indication that the people who were injured participated in the gunfire, according to reports from Sunday's news conference.
Investigators have not announced any arrests.
The sheriff's office collected seven vehicles for evidence, four that transported victims to the hospital and three left at the park, and interviewed 10 witnesses, according to the initial investigation.
The FBI is also assisting with the investigation because of the number of people involved, although investigators have said the evidence indicates the shooting was local.
Northeast football community asks for prayers
The social media post connected to Northeast High School's Class of 2027 identified the five students and asked the community to pray for the students.
Because authorities have not released the names of the shooting victims, the five students' reported connection to the shooting remains based on that school-related post.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office has asked anyone with information about the shooting to contact investigators at 478-751-7500 or 478-310-5112, or Macon Regional Crime Stoppers at 1-877-68CRIME.
The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities said additional information will be released as it becomes available.
Vanessa Johns is the Trending Topics Reporter for the Deep South Connect Team Georgia, covering food and entertainment. Email her at Vcountryman@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: 5 Georgia high school football players reportedly hurt in Macon shooting
