DUBLIN, Ga. — On Saturday around 9 p.m., there was a fight between a group of Burger King employees and their families, according to the Dublin Police Department.
Laurens County Coroner Nathan Stanley told 13WMAZ that Jeremiah Watkins, 19, was shot and killed. He died at Fairview Park Hospital about an after the fight.
Tammy Claxton works in Dublin and says she never considered Dublin unsafe. When she found out about the shooting at the Burger Kings on Veterans Boulevard, she was shocked and says it was upsetting.
"It's pretty sad. Especially around this time of year, any time of year, but especially now," Claxton said.
According to the press release, Around 9 p.m., on Sunday, employees at Burger King started fighting. They called family members to come and they started fighting as well. During the fight, someone opened fire killing Watkins. Archie McAfee has lived in Dublin all his life.
He says he used to be a teacher and it's a shame.
"We try in school, when I was teaching to teach the right thing. It's amazing that people just simply don't adhere to whatever we've got that's good," McAfee said.
McAfee says before he heard about the shooting, Dublin was a quiet small town with its charm.
"I think Dublin is probably one of the friendliest towns," McAfee said.
There was another shooting about two miles down the road in downtown Dublin in the area of 110 East Jackson Street. According to the incident report, an officer heard gunshots and people running for cover. Three people were injured during that incident. McAfee says the new generation and their influence play a part in the shootings.
"Subjects that now we see on TV plus the fact that we're exposed to otherwise, it's no wonder we're in such a mess," McAfee said.
Claxton hopes everyone will be careful and safe while they are out and about in Dublin.
The Georgia Bureau of Investigation is helping with investigations.