SALEM — Two men were wounded Tuesday night in shootings on East Broadway in downtown Salem, police say.
Each victim was shot once with a very small-caliber weapon, according to Salem City Chief of Police John A. Pelura III.
The incidents both occurred on East Broadway around 7 p.m., the chief said.
In the first case, a 19-year-old man was standing outside of Pat’s Pizzeria when he was hit once in the back. He went into the restaurant, Pelura said, where staff aided him and then drove him to The Memorial Hospital of Salem County in nearby Mannington Township.
Pelura said authorities learned of the shooting when emergency room staff called Salem police.
The second victim, 35, told police he was walking in the area of the Salem Motor Lodge on East Broadway when he was struck once in his arm.
He waited for nearly an hour and a half before coming to Memorial Hospital’s ER, according to Pelura. Salem officers were still there talking with the first victim when the second man came in.
Zoagie sandwich trailer hit by gunfire
The first victim was eventually transferred to Cooper University Hospital, Camden. His condition was unavailable Wednesday. The second victim was treated and released, the chief said.
Authorities did not release the identities of the two men other than saying they are both Salem City residents.
Police collected evidence and spoke with both victims, Pelura said. Neither of the men said they heard any shots fired.
He said what type of weapon was used will be firmly determined once ballistics tests are completed.
A motive remains unclear.
Pelura said it is too early to speculate whether the Salem shootings are connected to a shooting incident in Pennsville Township around the same time Tuesday night.
In that case, a sandwich wagon at the intersection of state Route 49 and South Hook road was hit by what’s described as an armor-piercing pellet. No one was hurt in that incident.
The first victim’s condition was unavailable Wednesday afternoon.
Anyone with information about the shootings is asked to call Salem City Police Department Det. Carlos DeLaPaz at 856-935-0033.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
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