Clayton News Daily

Photo by Ben Tew

Security guards cleared a rented Jonesboro event center after a party Wednesday night, but patrons lingered in the parking lot long enough for fights to start and shots to ring out.

Two people were taken to Atlanta hospitals to be treated for gunshot wounds, but they are expected to recover, said Clayton County Police Officer Eddie Soto. One man, shot in the left side of his chest, was treated at Atlanta Medical Center and returned to the scene while police were still there investigating, he said. The second man was in Grady Memorial Hospital in stable condition after being treated for injuries to his right arm.

Soto said private security guards hired for the event near the Tara Road Kroger Shopping Center, broke up one fight in the parking lot and returned inside. Then six or seven shots rang out, and the guards went back outside to once again break up the crowds.

However, once they were again inside, more shots were fired. The guards returned, cleared the crowd again and turned to go back inside when someone alerted them to the two injured men.

Soto said he did not know how many patrons were at the center, or their age range, but said the two gunshot victims are adults. No weapons were recovered and police continue to investigate, he said.

-- Kathy Jefcoats