A young boy playing outside was shot Saturday evening when shots were exchanged between two passing vehicles.

Sgt. Bryan Shelton the 5-year-old was transported to Children's of Alabama with a gunshot wound to the arm. His injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.

Shelton said the child was playing in front of a house in the 1800 block of Princeton Avenue S.W. when gunfire erupted between the occupants of two vehicles. The little boy ran to his mother and told her that he'd been shot.

He was struck in the upper right arm, and taken to the hospital by private vehicle. Police were then notified of the shooting and the injury.

Officers swarmed the area, Shelton said, but the suspects had fled the scene. As of 9 p.m., police had not identified the suspects or their vehicles.

"Here we have two parties who clearly have no regard for the community at all,'' said Birmingham Police Chief A.C. Roper. "Their reckless actions and anger towards each other endangered families, and hurt a child."

"They don't deserve to be free on our streets,'' the chief said, "but we need the neighbors, family members, activists, those with a vested interest to be just as disgusted as we are."

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