By Malynda Fulton
VALDOSTA — Police continue investigating the Sunday mass shooting that claimed the life of a Valdosta teen and wounded several others.
Valdosta Police Lt. Aaron Kirk said the investigation is still active, but no additional information can be given out at this time.
Capt. Bobbi McGraw added that one victim remains hospitalized in fair condition.
The shooting occurred around 5:30 p.m. Sunday at Hudson Dockett housing project. Valdosta police were dispatched to the scene, along with Lowndes County sheriff’s deputies and emergency medical services.
While some people were transported to South Georgia Medical Center by ambulance, others had friends and family transport them for treatment. SGMC Community Relations Director Laura Love said that none of the patients had to be sent to other hospitals due to the influx.
“Since the incident occurred around 6 p.m., two shifts of employees were available,” Love said. “The shift scheduled to leave at 7 p.m. was held over, coupling them with the resources provided by the new shift of 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. staff. The on-call surgical staff was alerted and staffing was determined to be sufficient for managing the influx of patients.”
Love added that the hospital has been properly trained to be prepared for such instances.
“To maintain our accreditation, SGMC conducts routine emergency preparedness drills on how we manage incidents involving large numbers of victims,” she explained. “Last Sunday was an actual experience where we were able to put those best practices to work. All of our staff, from the administrative coordinators, to front line ED nurses and techs, to our security officers and others who managed the crowds of family and friends gathering outside, deserve our sincere thanks.”
Eleven people were reportedly shot during the incident, including 19-year-old Sidney Bivens, who succumbed to his injuries shortly after being transported to the hospital.
Of the people shot, three were juveniles — two 16-year-olds and a 12-year-old, McGraw said.
Witnesses at the scene of the shooting said the incident may have resulted from an argument that occurred earlier at an area club.
McGraw said that police are not ruling out the possibility of some victims becoming suspects in this case. Valdosta Police Cmdr. Brian Childress added that at least two weapons were involved.
“We are not releasing too many details at this time because it may hinder our investigation,” Childress said. “Right now we are looking at motives and piecing together what happened and who was involved.”
Bivens’ body has been sent to a Georgia Bureau of Investigation Crime Lab for a complete autopsy. Police are also speaking with several Hudson Dockett residents about the shooting.
