1 dead, 10 hurt in mass shooting near Edgewood Avenue bars, police say

ATLANTA, Ga. (Atlanta News First) - Police are looking for the persons responsible after an overnight mass shooting along a popular strip of bars near the Sweet Auburn neighborhood left one dead and 10 injured.

The shooting happened outside of 349 Edgewood Ave. NE just before 1:30 a.m. Monday. Police say that 11 people suffered gunshot wounds.

Police identified the man killed in the shooting as 27-year-old Santos Wyatt.

The 10 injured victims were taken to Grady Hospital for treatment and are stable, according to police. Authorities confirmed that one person, an 18-year-old man, was critically injured.

“We haven’t had a weekend like this in a very long time, maybe two years or more,” Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens said during a news conference Monday. “We know the summer months often bring some of the most challenging times when it comes to crime and gun violence in our communities.”

Police confirm that seven men and three women - all between the ages of 18 to 29 years old - were shot in the incident. At this time, investigators believe the shooters, three men and one woman, were on foot after a dispute escalated into gunfire.

Atlanta Police Chief Darin Schierbaum said they are still seeking clarity on what prompted the shooting. Police said preliminary information so far shows the four suspects believed to be the shooters were “involved in a dispute that escalated to gunfire.”

READ: 2 people injured in separate shootings near Sweet Auburn neighborhood, police say

Police are asking anyone with information to come forward as authorities search for those responsible.

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It was a violent weekend across the city with more than two dozen people shot, including in that same area.

“Gun violence affects every single citizen of Atlanta, regardless of what neighborhood you live in, and where you are and this weekend when we saw individuals who are angry about everyday common matters pick up a gun and use it, it speaks to the work that needs continued to be done,” Chief Schierbaum said.

He added: “We saw shootings over disputes of cars being booted. We saw a nephew take the life of his uncle. We saw individuals shot in domestic violence disputes and disputes over dating.”

In a statement, the King Center, which is in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood, said its founder, Coretta Scott King, “envisioned the center as a global epicenter for nonviolence training and for strategic violence prevention.”

“We remain committed to that vision and to continuing to engage in efforts to prevent violence in Atlanta, where over 30 people have been shot in the last four days,” the center said in a statement. “We are available and prepared to work with the city and community organizations to ensure that Sweet Auburn reflects the beloved community.”

A $5,000 reward is being offered by Crime Stoppers Atlanta for anyone who wishes to submit an anonymous tip. Tips can be submitted to their tip line at 404-577-TIPS (8477), online at www.StopCrimeATL.org or by texting CSGA.

This is a developing story. Check back with Atlanta News First for updates.