Two city residents were wounded during a shooting incident near Totowa Avenue during the evening hours of Thursday, according to the Paterson Police Department.

The victims, both 27-year-old, city residents, were hanging outside in a group on Manchester Avenue near Totowa Avenue at around 6:50 p.m. on Thursday when a dark color vehicle pulled up.

A suspect, the shooter, exited the vehicle, and approached the group. “A verbal argument ensued between the male who exited and members of the group, at which time shots were fired and the two males were struck,” said Patrick Murray, head of the Ceasefire Unit.

The suspect wounded both victims in the lower leg, said police. When officers responded to the scene after being alerted to shots fired in the area they were unable to find the victims. However, minutes later police were alerted to two victims with gunshot wounds had arrived in St. Joseph’s Regional Medical Center.

Both victims are being treated for their wounds and remain in stable condition, said police.

“It is unknown at this time if the victims were the actual targets of the actor, and the motive is not clear at this time,” said Murray.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Aramis Alba or Detective Francisco Brito of the Paterson Police Ceasefire Unit at 973-321-1342.