An 23-year-old man was shot in the neck and seriously wounded early today when several men opened fire in a crowd of people outside an American Legion post in Annapolis.

Jamore Van Johnson, 23, of the 300 block of Chester Ave., was taken to the Shock-Trauma Unit in Baltimore after Annapolis police officers found him lying on a sidewalk outside the post in the 1700 block of Forest Drive about 2 a.m., said police spokesman Dermott L. Hickey.

Police went to the post to investigate a report of gunshots. On arrival, police saw about 300 people in the parking lot running in many directions, Hickey said.

Johnson was lying on the sidewalk with a gunshot wound.

Witnesses told police an argument among several men apparently led them to pull out guns and fire at least three shots. Two other people are believed to have been shot also, but they have not been located.

John Earl Sims, 22, was arrested at the scene and charged with a handgun violation after police recovered a 9mm handgun from his car. Police are investigating his role in the shootings.