San Diego

Two 18-year-old San Diego men were hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after being shot with a .45-caliber Thompson submachine gun in what San Diego police believe was a drug-related incident.

Keith Edward Lawrence and Mark Anthony Jones went to a house in the 3800 block of Gamma Street shortly after noon “to collect money owed to them from a guy named Joey,” said Officer Paul Thornton.

Lawrence and Jones reportedly had just entered the house when a gunman opened fire, Thornton said, and each man was struck once. Lawrence and Jones were taken to Paradise Valley Hospital in National City by an unknown third party, Thornton said. Lawrence was operated on and is in fair condition, a hospital spokeswoman said.

Jones was transferred by helicopter to UC San Diego Medical Center, where he also underwent surgery. According to a medical center spokeswoman, Jones was treated and discharged.

“We do have the gun, but no suspect is in custody,” Thornton said. “It is still under investigation.”