UPDATED: Shots Fired on Crescent Avenue Overnight, Officers Shoot Gunman

UPDATE:  The Atlanta Police Department has confirmed that a man was shot in the chest by one of their officers in a parking lot off of 13th street, early Thursday morning.  According to Officer Kim Jones, at "approximately 2:45 a. m., Zone 5 units stopped by Crescent Ave and 13th St. on a directed patrol. The officers were speaking with an off-duty officer who was working an extra job at one of the clubs at that location. While they were talking, a person walked up and advised the officers that there was a fight going on in the parking lot around the corner."

Jones told Midtown Patch that the officers then walked to the lot, "and saw at least one male shooting a pistol."  There were 2 pistols found at the scene.  Jones says, "Officers engaged this male, shots were fired and the male was struck in the chest. The male was transported to Grady Hospital in critical condition."

In addition, there was another male found with a gunshot wound to his leg.  He was taken to Grady in stable condition, but APD is unclear how he was shot.  

Officer Jones says that the shooting is being investigated by Atlanta Police Homicide and Office of Professional Standard.   
 
ATLANTA - Midtown Patch is awaiting more details about a double shooting around 3 a.m. on Crescent Avenue Thursday morning.  According to an 11Alive report, APD officers arrived to the 1100 block of Crescent to find two men hurt, "one man, around 25 years old was shot in his chest several times. The second man was shot there in a car."

Both victims were transported to Grady in critical condition.

Homicide Commander Paul Guerrucci told media outlets at the scene of the crime that there was a fight among a group of people leaving a club and that, "during that fight between that group of people, shots were fired so officers responded to the area and they actually encountered an armed gunman."  Officers shot the gunman, and he was transported to Grady, as well.

Witnesses described the scene as chaotic and one person was quoted as saying she believes 8 shots rang out in total.  WSB is reporting that 2 people were taken away in ambulances and a 3rd was placed in handcuffs.  The officer was not injured.

This is the second recent shooting in the Midtown club district around Crescent and 12th street.  If you recall it was late in May of this year that a man was shot by police in a parking lot near Opera.  

Midtown Patch will bring you more once the APD's official statement is released.

It seems that when these clubs close, the real dangers begin.  Fights break-out and people are getting guns from their cars and shooting at people.  What can ever be done to stop this criminal activity in Midtown?