NEWTOWN, Conn. – Two men were killed and 35 others were injured when gunfire erupted at a crowded homecoming block party in Vienna, Georgia early Sunday. Hundreds of people were gathered to celebrate Dooly County High School’s homecoming – though it was not a school-sponsored event.
Officials have said the injured victims range in age from 14 to 51 years old, and that a majority of them were shot. Some were injured while trying to flee the chaotic scene. A motive for the shooting is unknown, and a suspect is not yet in custody. Reportedly, as many as 50 shots were fired in at least two locations.
This incident occurred just days after a shootout occurred at a birthday party in Macon, Georgia that injured 12 teens. According to the Gun Violence Archive, there have been at least 20 mass shootings in Georgia since the start of 2026 in which four or more people were injured or killed, excluding the shooter.
In response, Nicole Hockley, co-founder and CEO of Sandy Hook Promise and mother of Dylan who was killed in the Sandy Hook Elementary School tragedy, issued the following statement:
“Our hearts are heavy for the families grieving the senseless deaths of their loved ones, and we are holding the dozens of injured victims and the entire Vienna community in our thoughts as they recover from this traumatic, chaotic night. A homecoming celebration should be a time of joy, connection, and community pride – not a place where lives are upended in a matter of seconds by gunfire. No one should ever have to fear for their safety while coming together with neighbors and friends.
“This tragedy is compounding pain in a state that has endured at least 20 mass shootings this year alone. Gun violence is a preventable crisis. Protecting public gatherings requires a proactive, multi-layered approach: we must expand evidence-based community violence intervention strategies, invest in local youth programming that equips young people with the skills to resolve conflicts peacefully, and ensure that anyone who sees or hears concerning behaviors knows how to speak up and report warning signs before a crisis escalates into deadly violence. At the same time, real progress requires common ground. We need sensible, bipartisan policy solutions that uphold responsible firearm ownership while ensuring guns stay out of the hands of anyone who poses a danger to themselves or others.
“We stand with the people of Vienna in demanding a future where our young people and families can come together without the threat of being shot.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and ways to support bipartisan policies that are proven to save lives, please visit sandyhookpromise.org.
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Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) envisions a future where all children are free from school shootings and other acts of violence. As a national nonprofit organization, SHP’s mission is to educate and empower youth and adults to prevent violence in schools, homes, and communities. Creators of the life-saving, evidence-informed “Know the Signs” prevention programs, SHP teaches the warning signs of someone who may be in crisis, socially isolated, or at-risk of hurting themselves or others and how to get help. SHP also advances school safety, youth mental health, and responsible gun ownership at the state and federal levels through nonpartisan policy and partnerships. SHP is led by several family members whose loved ones were killed in the tragic mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2012.
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