COSTA MESA – Two people were injured after a shooting in a Denny’s restaurant parking lot early Saturday.

Police were called at 1:54 a.m. about a disturbance in the back parking lot of the Denny’s at 3170 Harbor Blvd., Costa Mesa police Lieutenant Tim Schennum said. Several minutes later, witnesses heard several shots and vehicles speeding away.

No victims were found at the restaurant, but evidence of a shooting was found. Later, two people showed up at Fountain Valley Regional Hospital with gunshot wounds. One man had been shot in the chest and was taken to UCI Medical Center for treatment, where he was reported in critical condition. The other man was shot in the leg and was treated and released at Fountain Valley Hospital.

It is unclear what caused the shooting, but police suspect it was gang or drug-related, Schennum said. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Mike Delgadillo at 714-754-5197 or Sergeant Ed Everett at 714-754-5395.

By SONYA QUICK / THE ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Contact the writer: squick@ocregister.com