A suspected gang-related shooting saw two men gunned down Wednesday evening about 6:43 p.m. in the 500 block of Harding Avenue north of North Street and a block east of the St. Anthony’s Church and a block west of First Baptist Church.

One man received a chest wound, Manteca Police said. He was in surgery at San Joaquin General Hospital at 9 p.m. in an attempt to save his life.  The other victim received a non-life threatening wound to the leg.  Both men made it inside the home after being shot while standing on the front lawn, leaving trails of blood in the process.

Fire medics and ambulance paramedics arrived at the home attempting to stabilize the pair and place them in a Manteca District Ambulance for transport to the hospital.

Police stretched yellow crime scene tape around the area and located a number of spent shells in the driveway of the home.  Neighbors said they heard some nine shots being fired. They witnessed a Ford pickup truck driving northbound and skidding around the corner on Sierra Street heading eastbound. Officers later found a baseball bat and a wallet in the street. It was unclear what the connection the bat had with the shooting but it was collected as evidence.

Detectives traveled to the French Camp hospital hoping to be able to interview  the victims before they went into surgery and learn more about the shooting.

One resident said he had lived in the neighborhood for some 20 years. He said the level of fear has increased because of the unruly element that has moved into rental houses. Officers planned to be back on the scene today to canvas the neighborhood for additional clues into the shooting.

To contact Glenn Kahl, email gkahl@mantecabulletin.com.