Toronto police say they are looking for two men after a teen was shot and pistol-whipped while riding on a public transit bus in the city's west end.

The shooting happened at around 1:18 p.m. Monday inside a busy TTC bus travelling along Oakwood Avenue in the Dufferin Street and St. Clair Avenue area.

Police said the two suspects were seated at the back of the Oakwood Avenue bus when the victim boarded the vehicle at Vaughan Road.

Almost immediately, the three men -- who police say knew each other -- exchanged words and got into a physical altercation when a gunshot was fired.

The bus driver quickly pulled over the vehicle and the three men spilled out onto the street where the fight continued. The victim was pistol-whipped several times and was shot.

The 17-year-old victim did not suffer life-threatening injuries, she said. There were about 12 other passengers on the bus but no one else was injured.

People who live in the area were being urged to keep their windows and doors locked as police and tracking dogs scoured the area for the suspects.

The first suspect is believed to be about 40 years old, standing tall at about 6'1" with a thin build and facial hair on his medium black complexion. Witnesses told police he spoke with a low voice and he was armed with a gun.

The second suspect has a dark black complexion and is in his early 30s. He is about 5'9" and clean shaven.

TTC officials say the bus was equipped with working security cameras that could have captured images of the suspects.

This is the latest of several criminal incidents on Toronto's public transit system in months:

  • On January 22, a man was shot at the Osgoode subway station. The victim did not suffer serious injuries and a suspected shooter is in custody.
  • On February 12, a man was stabbed at Wilson subway station. The 29-year-old victim was taken to hospital with serious but non life-threatening injuries.
  • On Feb. 13, three teens were pushed onto the path of an oncoming subway train. Two of them lost their balance and fell onto the tracks but were able to roll underneath the lip of the platform, escaping serious injury.

"Of course it's concerning but it's not like you can watch for it," said one woman who uses the TTC often. "These things happen out of nowhere. It's scary."