A man became a shooting victim after an arranged date with a woman he'd met online turned into an apparent ambush on Tuesday.

The man in his 30s arrived at Peter Lougheed Hospital with a gunshot wound to his stomach after he arrived there at about 3 p.m.

He was immediately taken to a trauma centre to be treated while police began investigating how he was shot.

Police now believe the victim drove to a parking lot near Barlow Trail and 32 Avenue N.E. to meet a woman he had encountered online.

When he got in the woman's vehicle he was confronted by a man in the back of her vehicle who threatened him with a weapon and demanded money, police said.

The victim was shot during that confrontation, police said.

The shooter fled the scene on foot, police said.

The woman then drove the victim to the nearby hospital, dropping him off.

Police are still searching for the shooter, the woman and the potential witness.

The offender is described as black, in his mid-20s, with a medium build. He was wearing a white skullcap or do-rag.

The female is described as Caucasian, in her mid-20s, with brown, curly, shoulder-length hair.

She was driving a green sport utility vehicle, possibly a four-door Jeep.

Anyone with information about the incident asked to contact Crime Stoppers.