Northeast football players among those wounded in mass shooting at Carolyn Crayton Park

By Michael A. Lough

The Sports Report

centralgasports@gmail.com

            Saturday was to be a day of celebration, but it turned tragic and led Sunday to be one of more prayer than usual in Macon, particularly the eastside.

            A dozen teenagers were sent to Atrium Health Navicent The Medical Center after a shooting just past midnight Sunday at Carolyn Crayton Park.

            Bibb County Sheriff David Davis addressed the situation Sunday afternoon in a press conference as the story became a national one.

            “This is a horrific situation here in our community,” he said. “Our investigators are working tirelessly and relentlessly to get this solves and bring those to justice who are responsible for this.

            “I can’t remember when we’ve had this many people shot at one time in Macon.

            The press conference was attended by Macon-Bibb mayor Lester Miller and Bibb County School District superintendent Dan Sims. Davis said the FBI, GBI and ATF have been contacted to aid in the investigation.

            A party in Jones County was broken up by the owner of an Airbnb hosting the event – Davis said the owner heard a concern regarded firearms at the event - and it moved to Carolyn Crayton Park, after park hours. Another group arrived at the park, and gunfire soon broke out. The first 911 call was made at 12:06 a.m. Sunday.

            Students from Northeast, Central, VIP Academy and Soar Academy attended.

            Davis said it was his understanding that three of the victims were Northeast players, whom he didn’t identify.

            According to social media posts throughout Sunday that not been refuted or deleted, five Northeast football players were among the victims: Zaire Collins, Keiland Miley, Harold Simms, Jacory Sherman, and Carlos Daniel

            A graphic with the five players, as if they’re posing together, has been shared by assorted people and groups a few thousand times.

            Simms is a senior defensive lineman who is one of the top defenders in Central Georgia, leading the Raiders with 10.8 tackles a game and team-high three sacks. He had 14 tackles in Northeast’s 31-9 win Thursday night over Lamar County in a major region game.

            He was the Macon Touchdown Club’s lineman of the week two weeks ago

            Miley is a senior defensive back who is 10th on the team with 15 tackles.

            Sherman is a senior wide receiver who is fifth on the team with 11 catches and 153 yards, and three touchdowns.

            Collins is a senior receiver and defensive back, and Daniel a senior lineman.

            Initially, two of the victims were listed in critical and nine others in stable condition. Another teen ager showed up at the hospital Sunday afternoon with a shooting-related wound.

            Davis said because of the crowd that gathered at the hospital, an area was cordoned off, and the emergency center was put on lockdown. Vehicles left the hospital and park were taken to the crime lab.

            The Northeast program was the recipient of scores of well-wishing from football teams and schools throughout the area and state.

            Northeast is scheduled to play Rutland on Thursday at the Ed DeFore Sports Complex.