GAINESVILLE — Two women were hospitalized with gunshot wounds to the upper torso, one considered critical, and a male suspect was taken into custody shortly afterward Friday in Gainesville.

Gainesville police responded to the incident just before 3 p.m. in the 200 block of Atlanta Street behind First Congregational Holiness Church. Two victims were on the ground outside the Atlanta Street Apartments.

After she heard the sound of six gunshots, Irene Lipscomb, 39, rushed outside to see what happened.

“By the time we ran out, we could see them on the ground,” she said.

Lipscomb and residents near the apartments surrounded the victims.

One of the women was in critical condition. Both were rushed by ambulance to Northeast Georgia Medical Center. As of Friday night, they had not been identified.

The shooting occurred outside the apartment complex, drawing a group of onlookers.

“Due to the large crowd, that does give a large number of individuals to speak to,” Gainesville Police Department spokesman Cpl. Kevin Holbrook said.

Officers then found a possible suspect on the corner of High and Grove streets. The male suspect, shirtless, was inspected on the ground with blood on his boxers and a possible cut on his right forearm. He was taken into custody around 3:30 p.m. without incident, Holbrook said.

His name was not released Friday evening. Authorities said he had not yet been booked into jail and no information on charges was available.

Travis Thompson, 33, a relative of one of the victims, hurried to the scene.

“It’s crazy,” he said. “It happened so quick.”