Shooting Ends Lanier Lake House Birthday Party Gone Bad; News Nearby

By ETHAN LEVINE (Patch Staff)

A 23-year-old man was shot in the chest at a birthday party at a lake house at Lake Lanier Islands early Sunday morning, the Hall County Sheriff’s Office said Monday.

Deputies received a call at approximately 12:45 a.m. and were advised that one person had been shot and the shooter was still on the property.

Hall County patrol deputies responded along with SWAT team members, the Flowery Branch Police Department, the Department of Natural Resources and the Forsyth County Sheriff’s Office.

After securing the area, authorities found Malik Davis and determined he suffered a single gunshot wound to the chest. He was transported to Northeast Georgia Medical Center and was sent into emergency surgery. He is confirmed by authorities as stable at the intensive care unit in the hospital.

Investigators reported to the scene but could not find the shooter. Witnesses on hand said a group of friends had rented the lake house for a birthday party, and noted most of the attendees were from the metro Atlanta area.

Witnesses said three men showed up to the house uninvited. A verbal dispute broke out and then escalated into a physical dispute. Davis was said to have been breaking up the fight when the gunshot was fired. The three unknown men then fled the scene.

This case remains under investigation, and anyone with any pertinent information is encouraged to call the Hall County Sheriff’s Office at 770-531-6879 or at 770-503-3232 if they wish to remain anonymous.