NEWTOWN, Conn. – Twelve teens were injured after a shootout between two groups erupted during a birthday party gathering that was taking place in a Macon, Georgia park early Sunday morning. The injured individuals range in age from 17 to 19 years old and include 10 male victims and two female victims. Two of the injured are reported to be in critical condition, and the rest are stable.
At this time, it is unknown what type of conflict led to the shooting. It is believed the shooters are not among the injured.
Firearms are the leading cause of death among young people ages 1-17 in the state of Georgia, according to the most recent available finalized data from CDC. The overall gun homicide rate in Georgia increased by 29% from 2015 to 2024. Teens in the state who are over age 18 can legally own firearms, though public carrying of a handgun is generally restricted to individuals 21 or older.
In response to the shooting, 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:
“While we are grateful to learn that no lives were stolen by this senseless shooting, this is something that no young person nor their community should ever experience. The constant threat of gun violence means that kids cannot simply be kids and enjoy something as innocent as a birthday party together without the fear they might get shot. And the worry and trauma placed on families, not knowing if their teen will come home unharmed, is a terrible burden. We must come together to take action and prevent tragedies like this. We stand with the Macon community in demanding a safer future for all young people.
“Preventing community violence like this requires proactive steps that empower young people to resolve conflicts safely before guns are ever drawn. We must ensure every teen and young adult learns to recognize the warning signs of potential violence and knows how to report them safely – whether that is through anonymous tip lines or trusted adult intervention. Beyond immediate violence prevention programs, we need strong policies including secure storage laws to keep firearms out of the hands of young people and investments in evidence-based community violence intervention strategies. We cannot wait until after shots are fired to protect our children; we must give them the tools, resources, and support to build safer communities together.”
For more information about gun violence prevention, resources for how communities can heal after a tragedy, and information about life-saving firearm access policies, 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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Nick Dmitrovich | [email protected] | 203-304-9780 Ext. 279