Two men shot in altercation at Waukegan gun store

Two men were taken to the hospital Wednesday afternoon after an altercation at a gun store in Waukegan, police said.

Around 1:45 p.m., Waukegan police arrived at Smoke 'N Gun at 2010 Washington St. after being alerted that someone had been shot inside the store and that the store clerk was holding another person at gunpoint, police said.

Officers entered the store and detained one of the men involved in the dispute, authorities said, ending the confrontation.

Witnesses said the store clerk and another man were involved in a verbal altercation that took a violent turn when the clerk took out a pistol and shot the man twice in the chest and once in the leg, according to police.

During the struggle, the clerk accidentally shot himself in the hand, police said.

The man shot by the store clerk was taken to Vista West Medical Center before being flown to Lutheran General Hospital. The clerk also was taken to an area hospital.