Two victims remained in critical condition as investigators searched for those responsible for the gunfire at a Macon park.
MACON, GA — Twelve young people were wounded, two critically, when gunfire erupted between two groups during an 18th birthday gathering at Carolyn Crayton Park early Sunday, authorities said.
The shooting happened shortly after midnight at the Macon park after a group of young people moved the birthday celebration there from a rented home in neighboring Jones County, Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said. Investigators said another group later arrived, and a confrontation between the groups escalated into gunfire.
Davis said the two groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and began shooting at each other. Surveillance video reviewed by investigators showed gunfire lasting about 30 seconds as people fled the area. Authorities were still working to determine what caused the confrontation and how the two groups were connected.
The wounded included one 19-year-old male, four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females, according to authorities. Two were listed in critical condition, while the other 10 were stable. Davis said investigators had no indication at the time that any of those wounded had participated in the shooting.
Deputies were dispatched to Carolyn Crayton Park after the Macon-Bibb Emergency 911 Center received reports of gunfire. As deputies headed to the park, authorities learned that wounded people were arriving at a local hospital in private vehicles. The influx of victims, relatives and others prompted hospital staff to secure the emergency room area.
Investigators impounded seven vehicles as part of the investigation, including four used to transport wounded people to the hospital and three that were left at the park. Authorities also interviewed 10 witnesses as detectives worked to identify the people who fired weapons.
The gathering had begun as a celebration of a woman’s 18th birthday at a rented home in Jones County, Davis said. The group left that property several hours before the shooting and later gathered at Carolyn Crayton Park. Some people at the gathering were students from local high schools, according to the sheriff.
No arrests had been announced immediately after the shooting, though Davis said investigators had identified several persons of interest. The FBI was assisting local investigators because of the number of people involved, while authorities said the available evidence indicated the dispute was local in nature.
The shooting initially produced differing casualty counts as authorities gathered information from the park and hospital. Early reports listed 11 wounded before officials confirmed a 12th victim, a 19-year-old male who arrived for medical treatment later Sunday. The updated count left two victims in critical condition and 10 in stable condition.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office investigation remained active as detectives worked through witness interviews, surveillance footage and evidence collected from vehicles and the park. Authorities had not publicly identified a suspected shooter or announced what triggered the dispute between the two groups.
Author note: Last updated September 28, 2026.