An 18-year-old man was shot twice in the back early Wednesday near Baltimore's Penn Station but was reported to be alert and talking to detectives, according to a police spokesman. The victim flagged down a police officer stopped at a red light in the 1600 block of St. Paul St. a few minutes after 1 a.m., said the spokesman, Anthony Guglielmi. He said the man told the officer he had been shot two blocks west of that location. The victim was taken to an area hospital and treated for two gunshot wounds to his lower right back, according to Guglielmi. Police said they have been unable to locate the crime scene. Two blocks west would put the shooting on Maryland Avenue, on the west side of the train station in the upper part of the Mid-Town Belvedere or the lower part of Charles North, near the University of Baltimore campus. Guglielmi said detectives had no suspects.

- Peter Hermann