The number of shootings in Macon has been on the rise in the last week especially in the Unionville area of town which has experienced five of them. Some people in that community said they don’t know why there have been so many shootings.

“I just am thinking there are a lot of kids bored and they get into stuff, just things happen," AAU basketball coach at the Unionville Park Recreational Center, Melvin Flowers said.

However visitor to the recreational center, Glen Brawley said he speculates another reason.

"Gangs or drugs, I would imagine," Brawley said.

According to Macon Police Department Public Information Officer, Jami Gaudet, there have been 13 shootings so far which is 5 more than last year. While NewsCentral requested to speak to someone about possible gang involvement, officials said they would speak at a later date. However, Gaudet said these shootings may not be accidental.

"The people know each other,” Gaudet said. “They're not random kind of things, most of them. They're people knowing each other and people getting into altercations and when they're weaponized, bad things happen."

In the Unionville area alone three people were shot last Monday with two of them on Poppy Ave. Another man died Wednesday after being shot in the chest and on Saturday a man was shot in the head at Unionville Park. Some people who visit the recreational center said they are in disbelief of the recent events especially since all the victims are in their early twenties.

"It's strictly ridiculous, you know I don't understand why it's happening," Flowers said.

However, Gaudet said the increase in crime is normal.

"We have periods of quiet and then we have periods where things get stirred up and the Macon police department is hunkering down as they do in situations like this trying to figure out what happened, who's involved make the appropriate arrest and go from there."

Gaudet said the police department is still investigating many of the shootings around town and are asking the public to call CrimeStoppers at 877-68-CRIME if they know any information.