By Lookout Staff

December 7, 2011 -- Police are looking for two suspects in the shooting of a Santa Monica High School student that took place after school Tuesday near the campus, police said.

The 16-year-old victim was shot several times in the chest at around 3:25 p.m. near the corner of 6th Street and Pacific, about four blocks from the high school, police said.

Police are looking for two Hispanics in the late teens or early twenties. The victim also was Hispanic.

The victim was taken to a local hospital, where he underwent surgery and is in critical condition, police said.

The suspects fled in a dark-colored SUV that could have been a newer model KIA Sportage or Sorento, or a Honda SUV, said Sgt. Richard Lewis, the Police Department spokesman.

The right rear light was out, and there was a bumper sticker above the rear license plate, Lewis said.

The vehicle had a roof rack and silver or gray siding along the lower body, he said.

The suspects returned to their vehicle parked on Pacific and fled southbound on 5th Street to Ocean Park Boulevard, police said.

Police are investigating whether the shooting was gang related, Lewis said.

"We haven't had a shooting in this area for quite a while now," Lewis said.