LAKEWOOD, Colo. -- A 16-year-old girl sitting in a car was shot in the left leg Tuesday afternoon when a passerby opened fire on the car after gang signs between the car's driver and the pedestrian were exchanged, police said.

The teen was taken to St. Anthony Central Hospital. Her condition has not been released but she's expected to be OK.

The victim was sitting in the front passenger seat of a green Volkswagen Golf that was driving along 20th and Marshall.

The driver noticed a person walking on the sidewalk and gang signs were exchanged between the people in the car and the walker, police said.

The vehicle turned back around and that's when the pedestrian pulled out a gun and opened fire -- hitting the car at least three times and also piercing a nearby house.

Witnesses said they heard about nine rounds go off.

The driver then drove to 20th and Pierce, into a church parking lot, across the street from Jefferson High School, and called for help.

The driver and the two other people in the back seat were not harmed.

Police are searching for a Hispanic man in his 20s who was spotted running from the scene. He is about 5 feet 5 inches tall, with a flattop haircut. He was last seen wearing khaki pants and a bulky black army jacket.

Both Lakewood and Edgewater police are investigating the case since the shooting occurred near the border of both cities.

The investigation shut down 20th Avenue between Pierce and Lamar streets.