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Former NFL players talk about fatal Anchor Down Bar shooting

Former NFL players Uche Nwaneri (right) and Edawn Coughman (left) are owners of  the Anchor Down Grille. PHOTOS: Kim Klement/ Steve Mitchell, USA TODAY Sports

After a woman was shot and killed in their parking lot, the owners of a Buckhead restaurant called for people to settle arguments "without guns".

Twenty-five-year-old Taylor Hayden was a customer of the Anchor Down Grille on Piedmont Road. She was shot in the parking lot when she got caught in the crossfire between two groups of men. Her family says the men were members of rival gangs, but Atlanta Police have not confirmed that.

Taylor Hayden, pictured here with her mother, was a recent graduate of Prarie View A&M.

Uche Nwaneri and Edawn Coughman are former NFL players and owners of the restaurant. They opened the restaurant last year.

“We had high hopes of building a successful business and a safe environment for Atlantans to enjoy a good meal and a place to interact and enjoy the company of community friends. While this unfortunate situation did not happen inside our business, it did occur nearby and we feel terrible about the situation," Nwaneri said in a statement.

“In these times of devastating shootings, it never occurred to us that such a tragedy would happen near our restaurant,” Coughman said in the statement. “People need to learn to settle disagreements without guns."

The owners started a GoFundMe Account for Hayden's family to help cover funeral expenses.

"We know this fund will not replace the loss of this wonderful woman nor console her grieving family, but we just felt moved to do something to help them out," Coughman said.

An 11Alive investigation shows the restaurant has a history of permit violations, including some that are currently pending. According to a June 11 incident report, the restaurant has been cited for serving alcohol after hours and for not displaying their liquor license.

The Buckhead Coalition and Atlanta Crime Stoppers are offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of those responsible.

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