VIENNA, Ga. — A 17-year-old Dooly County resident has been arrested in connection with the October 4 mass shooting at a neighborhood block party in Vienna that left two people dead and 35 others injured.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) announced Friday, October 9, that Khadarius “KD” Ray, 17, of Dooly County, was arrested by the GBI and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office. Ray has been charged with one count of possession of a firearm or handgun while under the age of 18 and one count of participating in criminal street gang activity.
The charges announced against Ray do not include murder or aggravated assault. Authorities have not publicly detailed his alleged role in the shooting. The GBI stated that the investigation remains active and that additional arrests are expected.
The shooting occurred at approximately 1:25 a.m. Sunday, October 4, during a large neighborhood block party held in Vienna during Dooly County High School’s homecoming weekend. According to investigators, Dooly County Sheriff’s Office deputies were already patrolling the gathering when gunfire erupted in the 900 block of Pine Street.
Deputies immediately responded and discovered multiple people suffering from injuries. Two individuals were found in the 600 block of Pine Street and pronounced dead at the scene.
The GBI identified the deceased victims as:
- Ja’Quavion Aderious Jackson, 21, of Cordele
- Macaleb Malik Jackson, 23, of Hawkinsville
An additional 35 people were injured during the incident. According to subsequent reporting, 26 of those individuals sustained gunshot wounds, while others were injured amid the confusion as people attempted to escape. Victims were transported to several regional hospitals for treatment. Initial reports indicated that injuries ranged from stable to critical.
The gathering, which drew more than 1,000 people, was not an official school-sponsored event.
The shooting prompted a large-scale investigation involving the GBI and the Dooly County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators have been working to determine the circumstances surrounding the gunfire and identify those responsible. While the October 9 arrest marks a development in the case, authorities have not announced charges directly related to the two deaths.
The GBI has not publicly established a motive for the shooting. Once the investigation is complete, the case file will be submitted to the Cordele Judicial Circuit District Attorney’s Office for review and possible prosecution.
Authorities continue to ask anyone with information about the shooting to contact the GBI Regional Investigative Office in Perry at 478-987-4545.
Anonymous tips may also be submitted by calling 1-800-597-TIPS (8477) or through the GBI’s online tip submission system.
Hazlehurst Now will continue following the investigation and provide updates as additional arrests or verified information are announced.
Read the Georgia Bureau of Investigation’s full October 9 press release here.
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