After the teenager was shot about 8:20 p.m. at Ralph's Fish & Burger, 1801 N. Lewis Ave., a second would-be robber fled, police said.

The restaurant's owner told police that he had shot someone who was trying to rob him, Sgt. Virgil Litterell said.

The youth reportedly had a gunshot wound to the lower back. EMSA spokeswoman Tina Wells said he was taken to St. John Medical Center.

The restaurant had just closed and an employee had stepped out the front door when two armed juveniles confronted him, Litterell said. While one pushed the employee to the ground, the other entered the restaurant, he said.

When the owner saw the armed youth enter, he drew a gun and fired twice, hitting the teen once, "before he could be fired upon," Litterell said.

The other youth ran west across Lewis, dropping his gun in the street, Litterell said.

Police used a helicopter and dogs in their search for the teen who fled. He was described as black, about 5 feet 7 inches tall, with a slender build and dark clothes.

Earlier shooting: Earlier in the day, a gunshot victim was taken to a hospital from the Brandywine Apartments, 4020 S. 130th East Ave., in serious condition, authorities said.

He and another man were working on a car when a gunman walked up and told them not to move, Cpl. K.D. Williams said. The gunman then shot one of the men in the face and ran north and then west through the complex.

The shooter was described as black, in his early 20s, and about 5 feet 7 inches tall. He was wearing black and had his face covered.

The shooting appeared to be an armed robbery attempt, Sgt. Dave Walker said.

Unrelated robberies: Police also are investigating three armed robberies Monday night and early Tuesday. The first occurred about 6:20 p.m. Monday in a parking lot near the 3600 block of South Yale Avenue.

That robber was described as white, in his early 20s, about 5 feet 9 inches tall and 170 pounds. A man who was with him was black and in his early 20s, about 5 feet 10 inches and 175 pounds.

About 8:15 p.m. Monday, a man was robbed as he was walking near 67th Street and Lewis Avenue.

That robber was black, about 5 feet 7 inches and 150 pounds. He wore a camouflage jacket and black pants and carried a dark-colored semiautomatic pistol.

In the third heist, two young men or teenagers forced their way inside a woman's home at the South Glen Apartments, 5629 S. Quaker Ave., and robbed her about 2:10 a.m.

They were wearing black clothing and black ski masks.

Anyone with information about the robberies or shootings is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 596-COPS.