A 17-year-old was rushed to Hamilton General Hospital with serious injuries after he was shot during a home invasion.

Police are searching for three or four male suspects who fled north from the 80 Eastbourne Ave. home after the shooting Friday evening.

This is the third home invasion in central Hamilton in two weeks. The first was Jan. 8 on King Street East and the second Jan. 13 on Myrtle Avenue.

Staff Sgt. Paul Evans said it was not yet clear if Friday night's shooting, south of Main Street East, between Cumberland and Delaware, is connected.

Officers were already on their way to the home for a noise complaint at about 7 p.m. when police received a call about a gunshot wound, Evans said.

Police say three to four males entered the multi-unit home with their faces covered. It was not immediately apparent if anything had been taken from the home, but "nothing was taken directly from the victim," Evans said.

The suspects ran north on Eastbourne and entered a vehicle, police said.

The victim is a tenant on the main floor of the home.

The teen's injuries are "non-life-threatening," Evans said, adding he was communicating with first responders.

He had gunshot injuries on his arm and leg, and was transported to the General "in serious but stable condition," said EMS superintendent David Donais.

Evans said the injuries appeared to have been caused by a shotgun, noting they appeared to result from a single shot.

"I'm in shock," said neighbour Mike Ludwig, who saw the victim carried out on a stretcher.

There aren't any break-ins in the area, Ludwig said, describing St. Clair as a quiet residential area.

Another neighbour, Debbie Deak, said a teenager living at that address moved in with his mother about six months ago.

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Evans said he couldn't speculate on the motive during the ongoing investigation.

Anyone with information can contact police at 905-546-3818 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477.