NORTH AURORA – The two North Aurora men who were injured Tuesday in a shooting knew their attackers, police said Wednesday.

“Detectives believe that the motive for this crime was theft of an item,” North Aurora Police Deputy Chief Scott Buziecki said in a news release. “It is also believed that the suspects have a connection to the victims, either direct or indirect.”

A 22-year-old man was shot in the arm, and a 23-year-old man was shot in the arm and chest in an apartment building in the 100 block of South River Road, which is Route 25. They are in fair condition at Provena Mercy Medical Center in Aurora.

At 7 a.m. Tuesday, the 22-year-old man answered his door, and one of the suspects pointed a gun at him and demanded to be given an item that the suspects were looking for, police said. The man ran to the bedroom, where the 23-year-old man and his girlfriend were sleeping, while the suspects ransacked the apartment.

The suspect with the gun then shot the two men, and fled the apartment in an unknown direction. Police did not say what the item was.

Police are looking for two suspects armed with at least one handgun, described as a stainless steel, semiautomatic handgun. The suspects are described as two Hispanic men between 5 feet 7 inches and 5 feet 9 inches tall and weighing between 150 and 170 pounds.

No motive is known at this time, including whether the shooting was gang-related, Buziecki said. Police were dispatched to the apartment building, just south of Butterfield Road, about 7:05 a.m.

Those with information about the incident are urged to call North Aurora police detectives at 630-897-8705, ext. 610.

Anonymous tips may be left by calling 630-897-8705 and choosing option 3.