OAKLAND — Two men were wounded by gunfire in downtown Wednesday afternoon after they got into a shootout with the owner of some tools they were trying to steal, authorities said.
The two 22-year-old men, one from Richmond and the other from San Francisco, were in stable condition at a hospital where they were under arrest on suspicion of robbery, authorities said.
The tool owner was not injured.
The shooting was reported about 3:10 p.m. Wednesday in the 300 block of 17th Street.
Police said the two suspects were trying to steal some tools from a van when they were confronted by the owner.
One of the suspects pulled a gun and shots were exchanged before the two were able to get into a nearby car and were driven away, police said. They were dropped off moments later at a hospital and the driver who brought them there fled in the vehicle, police said.
Police said the two men are suspects in other downtown vehicle break-ins.
Anyone with information about the break-ins or who was driving the car that brought the two injured suspects to the hospital is asked to call police at 510-238-3326.
Staff writer George Kelly contributed to this report.
Source: www.mercurynews.com