Friday morning started with a school shooting that left 10 dead in Santa Fe, Texas, and it ended with deadly gunfire at a graduation in Jonesboro, Georgia, south of Atlanta.
One woman was killed and another was injured when gunfire was exchanged around 8 p.m. The lot at Mt. Zion High School was being used as overflow parking for the Perry Career Academy graduation at the Clayton County Performing Arts Center, which is across the street on Mount Zion Parkway.
Perry Career Academy is an alternative high school in Jonesboro.
The ceremony had recently ended when the women were shot, but the incident was not related to the graduation or the high school, according to the school district.
Authorities say the shooting broke out after an argument between different groups in the parking lot. None of the victims have been identified, but those still alive are expected to recover.
Officials said a 21-year-old victim was taken to Atlanta Medical Center with gunshot wounds to the leg, while another woman was taken to Piedmont Henry Hospital. Officials said that woman, who was pregnant, was not shot rather she was hurt when she was pushed.
A third victim, a woman in her 40s, was taken to Southern Regional, but was later pronounced dead. Officials said she was shot three times in the chest.
On Saturday, the Clayton County sheriff’s office announced two arrests in the shooting, but declined to release the suspects’ names while charges are pending.
It is believed that the violence was not connected to either Perry Career Academy or Mt. Zion High School, though authorities are unclear on the details.
Police said two parties were involved in a verbal argument and then began shooting at each other. The arrests were made after investigators interviewed several people late into the night, Clayton police spokeswoman Officer Marcena Davis said.
The ceremony had recently ended when the women were shot, but the incident was not related to the graduation or the high school, according to the school district.
As gun violence continues to be the terrifying new normal for an entire generation of young people, it’s absolutely heartbreaking to see such a special night of celebration forever tarnished by trauma.