'Innocent bystanders' caught in gunfire as shooting in Atlanta kills 1, injures 10
The shooting took place near Edgewood Avenue in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood of the city, police confirmed.
A man was killed and nearly a dozen people suffered injuries in an early morning mass shooting in Atlanta's nightlife district, officials said, marking the end to a bloody weekend of gun violence across the city.
Just before 1:30 a.m. on Monday July 28, officers responded to the 300 block of Edgewood Avenue in the Sweet Auburn neighborhood to a report of multiple people struck by gunfire, Atlanta Police Department Chief Darin Schierbaum said.
The area is just east of downtown Atlanta.
Arriving officers found 11 people shot including a 27-year-old man pronounced dead at the scene, Schierbaum told reporters during a late-morning news conference. The other 10 victims included an 18-year-old man who was taken to a hospital in critical condition.
'Innocent bystanders'
Of the injured, at least five people appeared to be what the chief called "innocent bystanders."
"We are seeking three males and a female that approached a group that was assembled around a street car stopped on Edgewood that we believe were responsible for initiating the exchange of gunfire," Schierbaum said.
Investigators recovered firearms as well as 34 shell casing from the scene, Schierbaum said.
Police have not officially released the name of the man who died, but FOX 5 Atlanta reported police identified him as Santos J. Wyatt and that police also said the victims range between 18 and 29 years old.
Paste BN has reached out to police as well as the Fulton County Medical Examiner's office.
A complete description of the four suspects were not available as of early afternoon July 28 but police said they planned to release video of them taken from the scene sometime July 31.
'None is connected to the other'
The carnage was one of 12 incidents of gun violence that, in sum, left two people dead and 29 others hurt over the weekend, Schierbaum said.
"None is connected to the other than the individuals had guns and they were angry," Schierbaum said. "This department will not rest until we bring those who are responsible to justice."
Investigators continued to work to determine motives in the spate of unrelated shootings, Schierbaum said.
"My heart goes out to all of the family members of any victim that lost their life over this weekend," Atlanta Mayor Andre Dickens told reporters during the morning news conference. "I'm praying for a speeding and full recovery for anyone that was injured in the violence. We haven't had a weekend like this in a long time ... guns are not the answer."
How many homicides has Atlanta had so far this year?
So far this year, the city has seen 57 criminal homicides, Schierbaum said.
At this same time last year, the city had so far seen 76 killings, he said.
The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is assisting Atlanta police on the mass shooting case, police said.
Anyone with information about the Edgewood mass shooting or any other shootings that took place over the weekend is asked to call 404-577-TIPS (8477).
Natalie Neysa Alund is a senior reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at nalund@usatoday.com and follow her on X @nataliealund.