"It's not going to be tolerated in the city," Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives said yesterday. "It's a disgrace."

The gunmen, both with criminal histories, also are recovering from wounds from shooting each other, Walker said.

Leon Washington, 21, of the 1400 block of Robinson Street, is also charged with another recent shooting. Walker noted that Washington had numerous prison tattoos, including the words "life or death" beneath his eyes.

Washington and the other suspect, Anthony Mitchell, 23, of the 200 block of Hobart Street, face a long list of charges that also include aggravated assault and weapons violations.

About 8:40 p.m. Wednesday on the unit block of Ruby Street, a heated argument about a woman's cell phone escalated into a fight between two groups of men, Walker said. A woman who lived in the area stepped in and told both sides to back off.

Washington left but quickly returned with a loaded .45-caliber handgun and fired eight shots into a crowd of about five men, including Mitchell, who was struck in a leg.

Mitchell then pulled a silver revolver and returned at least two shots, injuring Washington in an arm, a side and the back, Walker said.

Walker said there were up to 40 people outside, many of them children.

The girl who was struck, Victoria Green, was on the opposite side of Ruby Street when she was hit by one of the .45-caliber slugs in her left calf.

She fled with dozens of others during the chaos, seeking refuge in a neighbor's home. When police arrived, Walker said, the officers received tremendous cooperation.

Walker said doctors treated Victoria but left the bullet in her leg because it posed less risk than removing it.

"She's a trouper," Walker said, adding that he visited Victoria at home; she greeted police with "a big smile" and seemed more concerned about her parents' well-being than her own.

Mitchell was treated for his leg wound and remained in police custody last night. Washington remained in the hospital in stable condition.

Walker said Washington was also charged with the shooting last Saturday of a 42-year-old man in a leg at 61st Street and Lansdowne Avenue after he had an argument with Washington's sister.