A male believed to be in his teens was critically wounded when someone opened fire on him Friday afternoon.

The gunfire erupted about 1:30 p.m. near the intersection of 31st Street and Park Lawn Avenue in southwest Birmingham’s Jones Valley community.

Officer Truman Fitzgerald said between 15 to 20 shots were fired at the victim as he was walking along the road. Someone pulled up in a vehicle and unleashed the bullets.

When police arrived, they found the victim just feet off Park Lawn Avenue. He was barely conscious and unable to provide officers with any information.

The victim was rushed to the hospital with life-threatening injuries.

The shooting happened near Jones Valley K-8, but Birmingham schools were not in session this week, so the school was not impacted.

“It just shows you how bold the suspect was,’’ Fitzgerald said. “It’s another incident where we have to invest in Connect Birmingham” which is a new program that would allow police access to residents’ home security cameras.

“You have a large residential area,’’ Fitzgerald said. “It would be a game changer.”

Fitzgerald said the victim could be as young as 15. Police were still trying to confirm his age.

“Its horrible,’’ he said. “We just lost a 15-year-old not a week ago.”

“We have to keep our kids safe,’’ he said. “Violence does not discriminate.”

“The juvenile has a fighting chance right now, and we’re thankful for that,’’ he said.

Anyone with information is asked to call detectives at 205-254-1764 or Crime Stoppers at 205-254-1764.