Police are continuing their search for a suspect after a 22-year-old man was shot in Cole Harbour, N.S., Thursday morning.

Cpl. Greg Church said the victim, who is from Dartmouth, was taken to hospital with "very serious injuries." It's not clear whether he will survive, RCMP said in a news release.

The man was shot while sitting in a car parked on Merrimac Drive.

Church said the shooting was not a random act.

"A very, very disturbing incident that has occurred here this morning," he said. "Public safety is a concern — there's been a shooting this morning."

'Pop, pop, pop'

Dorothy Horton lives in the neighbourhood and says she knows the victim's aunt.

"They were rushed right to the hospital," Horton said. "His aunt said he was hit in the chest and two in the arm, but he was moving [when the ambulance left]."

Local resident Adele Dionne heard the shots this morning.

"I was sitting at my computer in front of my window and I heard 'pop, pop pop.' And that's exactly what it sounded like," she said.

"I got up and I looked out the window and I saw a young man and an older gentleman pulling the victim out of the car. I grabbed my phone and I ran outside and ... I called 911."

She said the victim was awake when the ambulance pulled away.

"When they left here, he was alert. I could see wounds around the face, but there was a lot of blood other places as well. I know there was three shots fired into the car."

Dionne has lived in the neighbourhood for four years. She said she's shaken but still feels it's a safe area to raise her grandchildren.

"I'm still pretty shaken up. It's pretty close to home."

Investigators want to speak to anyone who may have information about the case. They're asking that people call 902-490-5020 or contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-TIPS (8477).

Lockdowns lifted

Two schools in Cole Harbour were under lockdown, but that order has been lifted, according to the Halifax Regional School Board. The board says everyone is safe.

Merrimac Drive is blocked off by eight or nine police cars, reports CBC's Melissa Oakley.

The emergency department of the Halifax Infirmary is also under a "Level 2" lockdown, according to Everton McLean, speaking for the Nova Scotia Health Authority. He would not confirm it is related to the shooting.

Cole Harbour High School student Brendan O'Reilly was in the area shortly after the shooting.

"I was just walking down the street and I saw a bunch of cop cars coming in and I just saw a guy lying down on the ground, just face down," he told CBC News.

"I saw another lady, she was on the ground, crying, all upset."

Cole Harbour Place was also locked down but it has reopened.