Two men were wounded, one of them critically, when several suspects fired shots into a crowded Homewood bar early yesterday morning.

A bar security officer and an off-duty Housing Authority officer who was a patron in the bar fired back at the suspects, but did not hit anyone, police said.

The shooting occurred about 12:30 a.m. at Denise and Earl's Bar at 7709 Frankstown Ave. in Homewood.

Police said Michael Durrett, 24, of Stanton Heights, and Mason Stubbs, 61, of St. Clair Village, were wounded in the shooting. Police said Durrett was getting ready to leave the bar and Stubbs was standing near the door.

Durrett, who had been shot in the chest, was in critical condition at UPMC Presbyterian. Stubbs, who was shot in the hip, was in stable condition at UPMC.

Police did not identify the bar security guard or the housing authority officer. Neither of them was wounded. Police said about 50 patrons were inside the bar at the time of the shooting.

Shortly after the shooting, two officers from the East Liberty station began chasing a 1998 Mercury Sable that fled from the scene of the shooting.

The driver of the car, Michael Owens, 25, of Wilkinsburg, crashed into a fence at 6903 Churchland St. and was arrested. Police recovered a 9 mm pistol from the vehicle. Owens was charged with a firearms violation and fleeing and eluding police.

Police said Eric Todd Griffin, 23, who ran from the scene of the shooting, was charged with aggravated assault, reckless endangerment of another person, firearms violation, and receiving stolen property.