SAN DIEGO—Two men with life-threatening gunshot wounds were found by police inside an apartment complex stairwell and later died, authorities said Saturday.

Officers were dispatched at 8:50 p.m. Friday to a reported shooting in the 4500 block of Alvarado Canyon Road in the Grantville neighborhood of San Diego, according to the San Diego Police Department.

“It appears there was some sort of altercation among a group of people near the pool area inside the apartment complex. At least one suspect and possibly two pulled out firearms and began shooting,” police said.

Officers detained a group of people leaving the complex after the shooting, but no one appeared to be the suspects. The group was released at the scene.

It was possible there were more people also firing weapons, but that will be determined through an evaluation of the physical evidence, according to the department.

Both victims were described as black men in their 20s or 30s. Both died at a hospital and have yet to be identified. Detectives were working with the medical examiner to identify them.

The suspects possibly left on foot and fled west of the complex. They were described as one or two black males. The clothing was described as a red hoodie and black or red pants, police said.

A police helicopter was used to check the area, but no suspects were found.

Authorities urged anyone with information regarding the shooting to call the police at 619-531-2293 or Crime Stoppers at 888-580-8477.