Howard County police are investigating a shooting early yesterday in a Columbia apartment that left a man with an injured thumb.

Police received a call about 2: 45 a.m. that reported a shooting in the 5600 block of Stevens Forest Road, said Sgt. Morris Carroll, a county police spokesman.

When police arrived, Irvin Moore, 22, told them that three men had entered his apartment, masked their faces with their shirts and began shooting.

"He stated he did not know the suspects," Carroll said.

Police said a woman who was in the apartment with Moore escaped out the back door. She was not injured.

Moore told police that the men fired three shots. He was shot once in the right thumb, and one of the intruders struck Moore on the head with a gun, police said.

Moore was treated and released from Howard County General Hospital.

Police are investigating a possible motive in the case.

Pub Date: 7/27/99