Macon, Georgia – An incident occurred early Thursday that left one man dead and six others injured during a shooting at an illegal “shot house,” where alcohol was being sold without proper authorization, according to officials in the city.

The shooting took place around 1 a.m. in a residence located on the south side of Macon, the same property where a fatal shooting occurred in January.

Authorities have identified the victim as 34-year-old Jawasiki Deuventa Guyton, who succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital. Among the wounded, one man is reported to be in critical condition, while the other five are expected to survive their injuries.

During a press briefing on Thursday, Sheriff David Davis shared that the shooting erupted after an argument among those present. He explained that someone involved in the dispute produced a firearm and began firing shots seemingly at random.

Investigators are currently looking to speak with an individual who may have information related to the incident, although no specific suspects have been named yet. Many witnesses are unable to provide accounts; some were hospitalized, while others refrained from speaking due to their involvement in illegal activities, and several were reportedly intoxicated. Sheriff Davis mentioned that authorities have acquired a blurred image of a dark vehicle linked to the shooting but are in need of clearer images or video footage for identification purposes.

Additionally, the sheriff indicated that charges could be pursued against the property’s owner for their role in permitting the illegal sale of alcohol on the premises.

“When individuals mix alcohol and firearms in a tense situation, it creates a hazardous environment that can lead to tragic outcomes,” Davis noted.

Sheriff Davis also highlighted that deputies have been actively working to dismantle illegal shot houses in the area for over a year. He pointed out that multiple arrests had occurred at the same house where the shooting took place, as well as another location in November 2023. Although the sheriff mentioned that the site had been largely inactive for police calls this year, it appears that bootlegging activities have resumed in recent weeks.

“It’s like a game of Whac-A-Mole; we manage to close one down, only for them to relocate to another spot,” Davis explained.

While undercover deputies have been patrolling the area, local residents and business owners have called for an increase in visible police presence. Jake Fincher, the owner of Fincher’s Barbecue nearby, emphasized the importance of police visibility, remarking, “The more you see patrols, the less crime there is. Simply being out of sight does not deter crime.”