Investigations are underway after almost simultaneous shootings Wednesday afternoon in different parts of Birmingham.

West Precinct officers responded at 12:55 p.m. to the 200 block of Avenue U in Pratt City. Birmingham police Sgt. Johnny Williams said dispatchers first received a call of shots fired, and then received another report of someone injured.

When they arrived on the scene, they found a man lying in a grassy median in the middle of a busy Pratt City business district. The man was rushed to UAB Hospital where police said he still had a pulse, but said his injuries are grave.

Investigators marked at least two shell casings on Second Street, and detectives were canvassing the area for possible witnesses, surveillance video, and anything else that could provide clues in the probe.

Williams said it was a bold move to do this in broad daylight in such a populated area.

"It's shocking to the community,'' Williams said. "We're not quite sure what happened, what caused it. That's why we have detectives in the area trying to locate anyone who may have additional information."

Dozens of officers responded to the scene. "We've always responded to any crime in this manner," he said. "There were a number of officers in the area. They descended on this location to try to gather information and help out the investigators."

At almost the same time, officers responded to a separate shooting in the 100 block of Goldwire Street. A man there was shot in the back and also taken to UAB Hospital with life-threatening shootings.

Williams said there are no suspects in either case yet.

Anyone with information is asked to call Birmingham homicide detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-7777.