Two victims remained in critical but stable condition after gunfire erupted between groups gathered at a Macon park.
MACON, GA — Twelve teenagers were wounded when gunfire broke out between two groups during a birthday gathering at Carolyn Crayton Park early Sunday, authorities said, with two victims listed in critical but stable condition.
The Bibb County Sheriff’s Office initially reported 11 people wounded in the shooting, which was reported shortly after midnight Sept. 27. Authorities later raised the total to 12 after a 19-year-old man arrived at a local medical facility with a gunshot wound and investigators determined he had been injured in the same incident. He was reported in stable condition.
Investigators said a large group had gathered near the park’s skatepark area for a party when another group arrived across the street. The two groups exchanged words, displayed firearms and then began shooting at each other, according to the sheriff’s office. Authorities have not announced any arrests, and investigators continued working to determine who fired the weapons and the circumstances surrounding the confrontation.
Bibb County Sheriff David Davis said the gathering was connected to an 18th birthday celebration that had originally been planned at a rental property in neighboring Jones County. The group was asked to leave that location and later gathered at Carolyn Crayton Park, according to Davis. Some of those at the gathering were students from schools in the Macon area.
The first 11 people identified as wounded included four 18-year-old males, five 17-year-old males and two 18-year-old females, according to authorities. A 17-year-old male and an 18-year-old male were listed in critical but stable condition. The other initially identified victims were reported in stable condition. The 19-year-old identified later had a wound that authorities described as not life-threatening.
Deputies responding to the park learned that several wounded people were already arriving at a local medical facility in private vehicles. The number of vehicles, relatives and friends arriving at the hospital prompted staff to restrict access to the emergency room while authorities managed the scene.
Investigators took seven vehicles to a crime lab for examination, including four that had been used to take wounded people to the hospital and three that remained at the park. Ten potential witnesses were also taken to the sheriff’s Criminal Investigation Division for interviews as detectives worked to establish the sequence of events.
The shooting prompted a large investigation because of the number of people involved. Davis said during a briefing that investigators were working to identify those responsible. Authorities had not publicly identified the wounded teens or announced criminal charges as of the latest updates.
The case remains under investigation by the Bibb County Sheriff’s Office. Authorities said additional information would be released as it becomes available, including any developments involving suspects or arrests.
Author note: Last updated September 28, 2026.