Investigation continues after early Memorial Day morning shooting in Americus

The shooting happened just after one in the morning Monday, mere hours before the American Legion Post was set to honor their fallen brothers.

AMERICUS, Ga. – The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is looking for answers following a deadly shooting that took place on the grounds of the Sumter County American Legion early Monday morning.

The shooting happened just after one in the morning Monday, mere hours before the American Legion Post was set to honor their fallen brothers.

Sumter County Sheriff, Eric Bryant says that while the location of the shooting had nothing to do with the Legion, the loss of life on Monday is still a dreadful thing.

“Well of course it’s a very unfortunate situation, especially when a life is lost. But, again, being on Memorial Day, one of the days where we actually remember those who made the ultimate sacrifice. I don’t think there was any intention and it just coincidentally happened on that same day. But at the same time it still does bring about a sense of ‘why?’ on that particular day, and especially there at the American Legion,” said Sheriff Eric Bryant, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

One of the victims found at the site of the shooting has not had his name released yet by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office or the Georgia Bureau of Investigation.

The only detail we found out was that he went by the nickname “Dank”

And, as the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office told us, there was one other person hurt during the altercation.

“…At that point in the initial call, we only knew about one victim at the time. Throughout the course of the investigation, we did discover that there was a second victim who came to the hospital on her own, who had possibly gotten injured during that incident,” said Sheriff Eric Bryant, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

Now as law enforcement continue to try and piece the investigation together, they’re questioning every possible lead in Sumter.

“At this point, we are very fortunate. We’re getting much cooperation out of not only the American Legion there, but the attendees on site at the incident, trying to get all the information. So, we have a lot of leads, we’ve identified some individuals that we’ll be again interviewing today,” said Sheriff Eric Bryant, Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.

As the GBI continues this investigation, they’re pleading with the community that if you have information to step forward.

If you have any information, you can call the GBI anonymously at 1-800-597-TIPS.

Brian Roche reporting.

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