YOUNGSTOWN — Two Ohio State Highway Patrol troopers from the Southington barracks were fired upon Friday afternoon on the city’s South Side.

The resulting response by multiple police agencies shut down avenues for a time near the Youngstown Playhouse.

The troopers may have been doing surveillance when they were shot at, according to a patrol dispatcher.

OSHP officials were meeting Friday evening with other law enforcement to discuss the incident, as their investigation continues. The FBI is assisting the state patrol, Youngstown police and the U.S. Marshals.

The troopers were fired upon around 2:05 p.m. Friday near the intersection of West Warren Avenue and Summer Street near the Youngstown Playhouse on Glenwood Avenue. Two sport-utility vehicles were involved.

The troopers were sitting in a police vehicle as multiple shots were heard, but no one was hit by gunfire from at least one SUV.

“The vehicles were in motion, obviously. The shooting occurred at this location, the two SUVs involved fled the scene and then our unmarked SUV moved down to the Playhouse and secured itself down there until officers got there to secure the scene,” patrol Lt. Jered Sutton told 21-WFMJ.

The patrol said the shooter or shooters were unaware they were shooting at troopers.

The police vehicle was not damaged.

As the situation unfolded, the Youngstown Police Department, state patrol and Mill Creek MetroParks police shut down portions of West Warren Avenue and Evergreen Avenue. Police also increased their presence at Glenaven Avenue.

A white Chevrolet SUV with North Carolina plates was towed from the area.