KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Three teenagers were injured in a drive-by shooting on the city's east side Wednesday afternoon.

Officials said there was heavy gunfire in the 5600 block of Bales Avenue at about 4:20 p.m. Witnesses said it sounded like a canon was firing. Police said it was likely from an automatic weapon, possibly from an AK-47.

"I was in the house and I heard this 'boom boom boom boom boom boom' -- and it sounded like somebody was beating on the side of my house," resident Angela Persley told KMBC.

Neighbors told police that the three victims, all in their late teens, were walking to their vehicle when a car drove by and opened fire on the group.

KMBC's Jim Flink reported that one of the victims was shot twice in the chest and two other people were shot in the leg. A neighbor saw one of the victims lying in the street and it looked as if his leg had been ripped off.

The victims were taken to a local hospital. Two are in critical condition and one has life-threatening injuries, authorities said. The injured are all in their late teens. Two of them are cousins, both 17.

Police are searching for a four-door, blue or gray late-model sedan. Three black men were in the car and a black woman was driving.

Anyone with information in the case can contact the TIPS Hotline at (816) 474-8477. Callers can remain anonymous.