COLUMBUS, Georgia (AP) — Nine people under the age of 18, including a five-year-old, were injured when gunfire rang out at a gas station in the Georgia city that borders Alabama, officials confirmed Saturday.
Columbus police officers responded around 10 p.m. Friday and found multiple shooting victims among a crowd of people. The victim’s name has not been released, but he ranged in age from five to 17. Seven men and two women were injured, according to police.
None of the injuries appear to be life-threatening, officials said.
Police Chief Freddie Blackmon and Mayor BH “Skip” Henderson III had scheduled a press conference later Saturday to discuss the shooting.
“The surge in gun violence involving our youth is affecting communities across the country,” Blackmon said in a statement. I want to assure our citizens that we are working tirelessly to keep violent criminals off the streets, and it takes a community effort to combat gun violence in our streets. The whole village is responsible because the incident affects us all.”
No arrests have been made.
Columbus is located about 110 miles (177 km) southwest of Atlanta and about 85 miles (137 km) east of Montgomery, Alabama.