Two 20-year-old men have been arrested in connection with a shooting at a Georgia city park that injured 12 teenagers during a birthday party over the weekend, authorities said.
The Bibb County Sheriff's Office announced Sept. 28 that investigators identified David Pitts, 20, and Jaquez Bailey, 20, as suspects in the shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park in the city of Macon, Georgia, about 85 miles southeast of Atlanta. The two were taken to the sheriff's office's criminal investigation division for questioning and later transferred to the Bibb County Law Enforcement Center.
Pitts was charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault party to a crime, while Bailey was charged with 12 counts of aggravated assault. Both are being held without bond, according
to the sheriff's office.
The shooting occurred shortly after midnight on Sept. 27 "at a large gathering" at the park, the sheriff's office said. One group was attending a birthday party near the skatepark when a second group arrived across the street.
"Both groups exchanged words, brandished firearms, and then began firing at each other," Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said during a news conference.
Eleven victims were initially identified, including four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females, according to the sheriff's office. Authorities later said a 19-year-old man arrived at a local hospital on the afternoon of Sept. 27 with a "non-life-threatening gunshot wound."
Investigators determined that the 19-year-old had been shot during the same incident, bringing the total number of victims to 12, the sheriff's office said. One 18-year-old male and one 17-year-old male were listed in critical but stable condition on Sept. 27, while the remaining victims were reported in stable condition, according to the sheriff's office.
Davis described the shootout as a "horrific chain of events." The incident occurred on the same day three people were killed and four others were injured in a shooting at an "after-hours location" in Detroit, local authorities said.
Sheriff: 'Not the way that we want to see a Sunday start'
Davis said investigators determined the large gathering was a birthday party for a young woman turning 18. According to the sheriff, the celebration had originally been planned at a short-term rental property in neighboring Jones County before attendees were told to leave.
"The owner of the Airbnb became concerned with some of the activities that were going on at the party," Davis said. "So he told the partygoers of the people at the Airbnb that they would have to leave."
The partygoers later regrouped at Carolyn Crayton Park, and investigators believe they had not been at the park long before the confrontation began. Davis said authorities were still working to establish a timeline and determine what sparked the dispute.
"This is certainly not the way that we want to see a Sunday start," Davis said. "This is a horrific situation here in our community, and our investigators are working tirelessly and relentlessly to get this solved."
The sheriff added that investigators were examining multiple possible motives, including whether the shooting could be related to gangs, schools, or personal conflicts, but said no cause had been established.
Investigation into Georgia city park remains ongoing
Authorities said 10 witnesses were taken to the sheriff's office criminal investigations division for interviews. Seven vehicles, including four used to transport victims to a hospital and three left at the park, were also taken for forensic examination.
The influx of victims, relatives and friends at the hospital prompted authorities to secure the area and place the emergency department on lockdown, according to the sheriff's office.
Davis said authorities were reviewing information from witnesses, social media and tips from the public as they continued to investigate the incident. He noted that there was no known connection between the shooting and an earlier permitted event at the park that had ended before the violence erupted.
Authorities are urging anyone with information on the incident to contact the Bibb County Sheriff's Office or the Macon Regional Crime Stoppers.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 2 arrested after 12 teenagers injured in Georgia park shooting
