By George P. Hassett

A teenage boy was shot in the arm at the intersection of Cross and Pearl streets at 5:30 tonight in what witnesses and neighborhood residents say may have been an act of gang violence.

"It’s like a little turf thing," said a man who lives on the street and would not give his name. He said the shooting was the result of a feud between teenagers claiming affiliations with the street gangs MS-13 and the bloods.

Witnesses said the victim, a 16 year old Somerville boy, was shot once in the arm as he stood outside Cross Street Market and Deli. The boy then ran into the store bleeding and fell on the ground while pleading for help, they said.

A friend of the victim said the incident was gang related. He said the shooter was affiliated with MS-13 and had been feuding with the victim’s friends who often wear red clothing — a color that could be taken as a symbol of membership in the bloods.

Somerville Police Capt. Paul Upton would not confirm details of the shooting but did say the victim’s injuries were not life threatening.

At the scene, detectives sealed off the intersection with yellow tape and collected bullet casings from the street.

Peter George, who has lived in the neighborhood for 13 years, said the area has become less safe since he first moved in. "This is a tight knit community here," he said. "It’s just this MS-13 thing. We don’t know what to do about it."

Police are asking anyone with information about the shooting to call Somerville police detectives at 617 625-1212.