Security guard among 3 shot outside Edgewood Avenue bar

Atlanta police are searching for a gunman in a shooting in the city's Sweet Auburn neighborhood that sent three people to the hospital overnight.

Atlanta's Edgewood Avenue was blocked off for most of the overnight hours after the shooting, which police say happened in the 300 block of the busy street.

Police say someone fired shots shortly after 12:30 a.m. on the sidewalk near Harold's Chicken and Ice Bar.

"You know, in the Edgewood area, there's a lot going on. We do everything possible to protect our employees and our patrons," said Bobbie Robinson, Harold's Chicken & Ice Bar.

Investigators are trying to piece together what led up to the shooting, but they say it appears to have started as some kind of argument on the sidewalk near the bar that escalated into gunfire.

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Atlanta police investigate a triple shooting along Edgewood Avenue during the early morning hours of April 21, 2023. (FOX 5)

At least one of those bullets hit the sport bar's security guard, who was checking IDs outside the establishment and heard a commotion a few doors down outside Our Bar Atl.

A spokesperson with the security company the man works for told FOX 5 the security guard heard some men talking about shooting someone before gunfire erupted.

"Two guys who were fighting pulled out guns and started shooting. One of them was running down the street they passed by our restaurant. The gunfire exchanging back and forth shot one of our security guards," said Robinson.

Shortly afterward, two other victims in the shooting, who police have only identified as a man and a woman, arrived at Grady Memorial Hospital in a private vehicle. Atlanta police say all three were innocent bystanders.

The most seriously injured victim underwent surgery during the overnight hours.

Authorities have not released any information about potential suspects in the case.

Investigators are reviewing surveillance video from area businesses as they work to identify the shooters

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Businesses cleanup along Edgewood Avenue after a triple shooting earlier in the morning on April 21, 2023. (FOX 5)

Employees spent the morning cleaning up evidence of the overnight shooting.

"I had to come. I had to start cleaning up, sweeping up the glass," one employee said.

Robinson believes it's going to take city leaders and police working with business owners to combat gun violence.

"And maybe we can get more police presence in the area because this is happening on the streets. So maybe if we can come together as businesses, hire some off duty police officers, just some help from the city.  If we have police officers actually on the corners standing around, then maybe that will deter some of this gun violence," Robinson said.

If you have any information about the shooting, call the Atlanta Police Department.