Five people shot in downtown Athens

The scene of Sunday morning's shooting that injured five people (Photo by Abigail Johnson/Classic City News)

By Joe Johnson Five people reportedly were injured in downtown Athens early Sunday after a large fight broke out and someone repeatedly fired a gun into the crowd. The incident occurred shortly after 1 am. at the corner of North Jackson and East Clayton streets, according to Athens-Clarke County police Public Information Officer Lt. Shaun Barnett. “During the course of the fight a Black male suspect began discharging a firearm into the crowd that was fighting,” he said.

The victims were among the crowd that was fighting in the middle of East Clayton, and the shooter reportedly fired his gun from in front of Taqueria Tsunami ar 320 Clayton St. The victims were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, Barnett said. He said the victims ranged in age from 19 to 29, and none attended the University of Georgia. The suspect and a motive have not been identified, Barnett said. “The shooter put a lot of lives at risk and we are devoting every possible resource to identify and arrest him,” the officer said. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective Scott Black at 762-400-7058 or scott.black@accgov.com. Anonymous calls can be made to the Crime Stoppers confidential trip line at (706) 705-4775. Classic Ciry News will update this story as more information becomes available.