One person was killed and seven others were wounded when gunfire interrupted a party near Fort Valley State University during homecoming weekend, according to the GBI.
The state agency is investigating the fatal shooting, which occurred Friday night at an off-campus block party in the 600 block of Carver Drive. Peach County Coroner Kerry Rooks said Tyler French, 27, of Byron, died around 3 a.m. Saturday, Channel 2 Action News reported.
All seven of the wounded victims were considered stable Saturday afternoon at hospitals, according to the GBI. Fort Valley school officials confirmed that some students were among those injured. Rooks was not a student, officials said.
The party was held at a home directly behind the Henry A. Hunt Memorial Library and the campus student center. Due to the proximity, the Fort Valley campus was put on lockdown Friday until campus police determined there was no longer a threat. The lockdown was lifted sometime Saturday morning.
“Our thoughts are with the students and their families as they recover,” school officials wrote in a Facebook post and confirmed counseling is available.
The university’s alumni breakfast and homecoming parade, which were set for Saturday morning, were both canceled. School officials said there would be increased security protocols for the Saturday evening homecoming game.
As of Monday morning, the GBI did not say if a suspect had been identified or if investigators believe the shooting was targeted. The state agency is asking for help identifying any suspects responsible for the shooting.
Tips can be made by calling the GBI tip line at 1-800-597-TIPS(8477) or online at gbi.georgia.gov/submit-tips-online.
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