2 teens shot in front of St. Pete convenience store

Genevieve Curtis

ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - Two 13-year-old boys are in the hospital after being shot in south St. Petersburg on Monday afternoon while riding a bike.

It happened at 22nd Street South and 15th Avenue South shortly before 4:30 p.m.

Police said both victims are considered ‘stable’ at this time. One of the teens was in critical condition when he was taken to the hospital.

SPPD said the two boys were enjoying their day off of school and riding a bike, one pedaling while the other was sitting on the handlebars.

That bike was left lying in the road Monday afternoon, surrounded by crime scene tape.

"It's very sad, at this point, for these two kids and for their families that here we are on a Labor Day holiday and they're at the hospital with injuries," said SPPD public information officer Yolanda Fernandez.

St. Pete Police said someone fired shots from a car driving along 22nd Street South. Bullets struck the teens, as well as nearby businesses and cars, making it unclear exactly who the shooter was aiming for.

"This is something we don't know, at this time, who the target was," said Fernandez.

READ: Toddler hurt at unlicensed day care, St. Pete woman arrested: Police

The shooting struck a nerve with neighbors like Estelle Battle, who has a son about the same age.

"It is sad for these kids, again kids and guns in this community. I had to talk to my son about having a gun," said Battle.

She, like many neighbors, says they’ve had enough of the violence and the impact it's having on kids in their community.

"This community is tired of that violence. They don't want to see their kids and their children unsafe in the middle of the afternoon on the sidewalk," said Fernandez.

Investigators are not releasing information about a suspect vehicle at this time. They are asking anyone who saw anything or may have a Ring doorbell video to contact them.

There was also a shooting a few blocks away earlier this weekend. No one was shot and at this time it’s too early for police to say there is any connection.

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