Victims from Sunday shooting recovering, police have a person of interest

Published 6:59 pm Tuesday, September 3, 2019

VALLEY — The seven individuals suffering gunshot wounds outside the old Fairfax Kindergarten building Sunday morning have either been released from the hospital or suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to Valley Police Major Mike Reynolds Tuesday.

The seven people were injured after an argument continued from a Friday night football game between LaFayette and Lanett High Schools during a private party at the old school building.

According to police, officers arrived on the scene around midnight and found two victims suffering from gunshot wounds — a 24-year-old male from Lanett and an 18-year-old male from Valley in a vehicle. Additionally, officers found an 18-year-old male from Lanett inside the building.

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Officers later learned four victims suffering from gunshot wounds were taken to the hospital by a private vehicle with their ages spanning from 15 to 19 years old and all males. Two of the victims were later flown to Atlanta and Columbus for further care.

Reynolds said there was a party the building, which is a privately-owned building, and in the past several years has been rented for social gatherings.

The preliminary investigation shows an argument broke out between men at the party when they went outside and at least one of the men pulled out a gun and began shooting. As of Tuesday, Reynolds said there is at least one suspect but there could be two.

He said although the victims and witnesses at the scene were mostly unwilling to talk to police about what happened, law enforcement does have a person of interest in mind. Reynolds said most of what they were able to pick up came from those present at the scene yelling back and forth at each other.

“With the victims and witnesses being uncooperative, we don’t have a firm grasp on who did what,” Reynolds said.

As of Tuesday, he said nobody was in custody.

Anybody with any information is encouraged to call the Valley Police Department at (334) 756-5200.