Shooting in Santa Monica

Two alleged gang members were wounded in a drive-by shooting in Santa Monica on Thursday afternoon, leaving neighbors shaken and prompting St. John’s Medical and Health Center to beef up security.

Police said the shooting victims, believed to be members of a gang, were brought to the hospital by a friend after a gang-related shooting about 3:45 p.m. at Michigan Avenue and 18th Street in Santa Monica.

An unidentified 16-year-old was in serious condition with a bullet lodged in his neck and a 20-year-old man sustained a minor gunshot wound in his shoulder, said an emergency room administrator at St. John’s. Police were sent to the hospital because of fears of a retaliatory gang attack.

Police said they were searching for five male suspects, who allegedly pulled alongside the victims’ compact car and, after a brief exchange of words, opened fire. The victims’ car arrived at the emergency room with at least four bullet holes in the driver’s door.