Two injured in shooting on busy intersection in Berkeley

BERKELEY, Calif. (KGO) -- Police are investigating a shooting incident that sent two people to the hospital early Monday morning.

A manhunt for the shooting suspects, prompted the closure of a busy intersection for hours.

Police say dozens of shots were fired at 1:45 a.m. at Shattuck and Ashby avenues.

As of 11 a.m., police were still on the scene. It's a large crime scene where bullets were flying and even hit an apartment building while people were sleeping inside.

Residents who heard it say it was rapid fire. "It was like anti-aircraft fire. It was really fast, like you ever hear when a laser goes off? It gives that puff at the end, it was kind of like that," Jimi Devine said.

The two young men inside a car were shot and the person or people in the other car got away. "We do have two male victims in their 20s that were injured. They were transported to local hospital, they are expected to survive. They did receive pretty serious injuries during this exchange of gunfire," Berkeley Police Department Ofc. Jennifer Coats said.

Police say it could have been worse because some bullets hit the gas station on the corner and the occupied apartment building next to it on Ashby Avenue.

"It's extremely scary obviously for the neighborhood you know in this case, one of the apartment buildings you know they're occupied, so easily we could've had more victims in this case that could've been injured," Coats said.

"Well it's just disheartening because this area, I mean there's a lot going on here. There's La Pina down there, it's culturally pretty rich in this area, but it's disheartening," Rose Nisker said.

Residents ABC7 News spoke with were disappointed to hear about the gunfire, but say they aren't worried about their safety.

"I mean I'm around this neighborhood every day and I don't feel unsafe," Nisker said.

"I'm not going to live my life like worried every second, you know, I'm not messing with anyone. I doubt this was a random act you know," Devine said.

Police are still searching for the suspects and are investigating to figure out what the motive was behind the shooting.