Gas station shooting injures 9 juveniles in Georgia

COLUMBUS, Ga. (WTVM/Gray News) - Nine juveniles were injured in a late-night shooting Friday at a gas station in Columbus Georgia.

According to the Columbus Police Department, a unit was dispatched at about 10:11 p.m. to a Shell Gas Station in reference to a shooting.

When officers arrived at the scene, they discovered several gunshot victims and a large group of people.

Authorities said the nine victims were treated for non-life-threatening injuries at local hospitals. Four of them had been discharged as of Saturday afternoon, according to Columbus Police Chief Freddie Blackmon.

Police said all of the victims are under the age of 18, with the youngest being a 5-year-old boy and the eldest a 17-year-old boy. The other victims include a 12-year-old boy, a 13-year-old boy, a 14-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys. Two 13-year-old girls were also injured in the shooting.

Their identities have not been released at this time.

Members of the Columbus Police Department’s Robbery and Assault Unit responded to the scene and assumed the investigation. Blackmon said investigators are speaking to witnesses, some of whom are cooperating, while others are not.

Blackmon said that based on officers’ preliminary investigation, they believe an altercation took place at a party nearby that moved to the gas station and led to the shooting.

No arrests have been made at this time.

“We’re committed to ensure that we find the person or person that are responsible for this senseless crime,” Blackmon said.

Blackmon held a press conference on Saturday to provide updates on the incident. During the press conference, Blackmon urged those with information about the shooting to come forward and speak with the police.

“As I always say, it takes our entire community to combat gun violence in our city,” Blackmon said.

The mayor of Columbus, B.H. “Skip” Henderson III, also spoke during the press conference, offering condolences to the victims and their families.

“Our prayers are with all of these young people that were injured and certainly all their families,” he said.

He also commented that the city will continue to put resources towards programs and organizations that provide positive outlets for young members of the community as well as towards law enforcement as ways of combatting growing violence amongst juveniles.