Police were in Baltimore’s Harbor East neighborhood Sunday investigating a fatal shooting outside The Ruxton steakhouse the night before.

Around 11:53 p.m. Saturday, police responded to the 700 block of Aliceanna Street in the Harbor East neighborhood for reports of a shooting, the Baltimore Police Department said in a news release.

Upon arrival, officers located a 36-year-old man who had been “apparently shot multiple times,” police said. The victim was transported to an area hospital, where he was later pronounced dead.

Abutting Baltimore’s harbor, the neighborhood is a popular area for shopping and dining. The 700 block of Aliceanna Street includes the Baltimore Marriott Waterfront and restaurants The Ruxton, Azumi and the James Joyce Irish Pub & Restaurant, all owned by Atlas Restaurant Group. Baltimore Sun co-owner David Smith is a partner in some Atlas restaurants.

Bullet holes could be seen in The Ruxton on Sunday morning, and what appeared to be blood stained the street. Four police motorcycles were present in front of the Marriott on Sunday afternoon.

A private security group, Tactical Protective Services, was also stationed around the area. An employee, who declined to be named because he wasn’t authorized to speak on the matter, said the buildings’ tenants requested to have the security company stay nearby throughout the day.

A woman who gave her name as Monday Mortë said she recalled hearing the gunshots the night before from nearby in the Avalon 555 President apartment building, along with the slew of sirens and helicopters that followed. She said police and emergency medical crews blocked off the roads in the area.

“We saw the ambulance be police-escorted out of the area,” she said. “Typically, this stuff doesn’t happen in this area, so it was really surprising.”

Father and son Chris and Brad Niemeyer said they were being dropped off by an Uber when they heard what they think were seven or eight shots.

“We were standing at the door of James Joyce to get something to eat, and we heard a really loud noise,” Chris said Sunday morning.

“To me, it sounded like maybe a scaffolding was falling,” he added.

Staying at the Hilton Garden Inn in the area, the Niemeyers were visiting Baltimore for a few concerts.

“I was terrified because you think this is a safe spot … but you always hear this is a violent city,” Chris said.

Still, they had “a great time in the city,” he said. “We walked all over, and it was wonderful.”

A man who said he was from Canada and did not wish to be identified said he “heard the pop, pop, pop” and “thought it was fireworks.” He said he “looked out the window to see the fireworks and saw a black car rushing away and a woman crying pumping someone’s chest.”

The man noted when the shooting took place, dozens of people attending what appeared to be a wedding were out front of the Marriott.

Staying in a hotel across the street from the Marriott, a man and woman from Los Angeles, California who did not wish to be identified said they jumped behind the bed in their hotel when they heard the shots.

They recalled a barrage of gunfire followed by a woman screaming.

“Yesterday I was ready to pack my bags and get out,” said the Los Angeles woman.

An Anthropologie employee said crime in the area is “not bad at all” and that she had “never once felt unsafe walking around here and even working here” and was “surprised” to learn of the shooting. Another worker, who said she’s been with Anthropologie since 2019, added that she walks home at night from the shop and also has “never felt unsafe.”

Kefilwe Mumsi, a manager of the Marriott, said Sunday that crime in the area rarely occurs. She explained how Harbor East is a nice area of the city and said that the shooting was an unfortunate event.

Outside the Marriott, dozens of guests stood waiting for their vehicles Sunday morning and talking about the shooting. Bystanders dressed in Ravens football jerseys stopped in front of The Ruxton to look at the bullet holes and suspected blood in the street. The windows were all intact and fully covered from the inside by curtains.

Atlas Restaurant Group confirmed Sunday that all of its restaurants would open and operate on time.

“The overnight shooting in our community is deeply disturbing on many levels,” reads a statement from Atlas. “While the Baltimore Police Department investigates this incident, we will continue to work with law enforcement, our 24-hour security teams and the greater community to do everything possible to maintain a safe environment for our staff, as well as those who live in and visit our community.”

Tony Foreman, co-owner of nearby restaurants Cinghiale and Charleston, said from a restaurant owner’s perspective, the shooting is not indicative of “general mayhem” occurring in Harbor East.

“We have seen nothing like that in that neighborhood, but I believe strongly that this city is moving in a positive direction in terms of violence because this was an isolated thing,” Foreman said. “Like anywhere in the world, if someone is after someone, they will eventually find them.”

Foreman has been operating in Harbor East since 1997 when Charleston restaurant opened. He called Harbor East a “very safe place” and said his restaurants serve hundreds of people every night without incident.

Anyone with information on the shooting may call investigators at 410-396-2100. Those who wish to remain anonymous may utilize the Metro Crime Stoppers tip line at 1-866-7LOCKUP or submit an anonymous online text tip to Metro Crime Stoppers by visiting its website.

Baltimore Sun photographer Amy Davis contributed to this article.