NATIONAL CITY – Two teenagers were shot late Wednesday afternoon after being confronted by assailants in a dark sport utility vehicle, police said.

They were taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening, said Assistant National City Police Chief Manuel Rodriguez.

The teens, between 16 and 19 years old, were walking south on D Avenue near Plaza Boulevard just after 4 p.m. when the driver of the SUV pulled up by them, Rodriguez said. The area is a few blocks from Kimball Park.

The female driver and a male passenger spoke with the teens for a while before the passenger pulled out a handgun and fired several shots at the teens, witnesses told police.

Police said they do not know the motive for the shooting or whether it is gang related. Witnesses said the shooter did not verbally challenge the youths before he fired the gun, Rodriguez said.

So far this year, there have been no fatal shootings in National City, Rodriguez said.

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