A man was shot and killed early Wednesday inside a southwest Atlanta nightclub.

The shooting happened about 4 a.m. at the Blue Ivory Restaurant and Lounge in the 500 block of Whitehall Street, according to Atlanta police dispatchers.

Channel 2 Action News reported that the gunman walked up to his victim and shot him several times without saying a word.

“Right now, we’re not sure of the motive, but we do believe the victim was in fact the intended target,” Atlanta police Lt. Charles Hampton told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Hampton said there were “a lot of people” inside the club when the shooting happened.

“We’re trying to interview employees and some of the patrons that were here,” he said. “We haven’t heard that there was any type of argument that happened before, so that may be an indication that the suspect and the victim knew each other.”

The victim’s name has not been released, but Hampton said he was in his 20s.

Police were still interviewing witnesses just before daybreak Wednesday, and were reviewing surveillance video.

Hampton said no one was in custody, and investigators “really don’t have a good description” of the gunman.

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Instructor Daniel Jean-Baptiste reminds students to "measure twice, cut once" while using a hand saw at the Construction Ready accelerated summer program at Westside Works in Atlanta on Wednesday, June 18, 2025. The program provides training for careers in construction and the skilled trades. (Abbey Cutrer/AJC)

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