LEWISTON — A teenager was shot Thursday afternoon in what witnesses described as a volley of gunfire during which at least a half dozen shots were fired.

Witnesses said the teen was shot at about 4:30 p.m. near the end of West Bates Street. He then staggered his way to an apartment house before collapsing in a driveway.

By then, a man who lives in a nearby building had already called 911. Moments later, police in eight cruisers were on the scene.

Several teenagers were detained by police and three guns were recovered, according to Lewiston police Lt. Derrick St. Laurent.

One witness said that several young people, as many as a dozen of them, were seen fleeing the area shortly after the shots rang out.

The injured teen was taken to Central Maine Medical Center a few blocks away. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening.

Police cordoned off the area for a time after the shooting. By 6 p.m., the tape was taken down and the officers left the scene.

It was not immediately clear if any arrests had been made. Police confirmed that there was no ongoing threat to the community, though the shooting remained under investigation.

Scott Dunn, who lives in the apartment house at 50 West Bates St. where the victim collapsed, said he had moved to this part of the city five years ago because of its absence of crime and violence.

“And now these shootings are spreading out to this part of the city, too,” Dunn said. “We’re all sick of it. I don’t even want to live here anymore. I have a family so I’ll do whatever needs to be done.”

Another woman arrived home with dinner just as the police were leaving the area. She said she’s lived in the neighborhood for decades and didn’t recall any serious problems in the area.

Like Dunn, she was concerned that violence typically restricted to the residential downtown might be spreading into her neighborhood.

Lewiston Mayor Carl Sheline said that he had been informed about the shooting and that he was monitoring details early Thursday night.

“The recent youth gun violence that has rocked our city is unacceptable and untenable,” the mayor said. “We need to continue to work with at-risk youth and also provide support and resources for parents. These kids should be shooting hoops, not shooting each other.”

The teens detained by police were being questioned later Thursday night.