Long Beach anti-gang detective shot near a park in the Cambodia Town area continued his recovery, as the search continued for the suspects who shot him, police officials said.

The uniformed detective was patrolling in an unmarked car with another detective near MacArthur Park on Anaheim Street at Mahanna Avenue when he was shot once in the upper body around 11 p.m. Saturday, Sgt. Rico Fernandez said.

The detective, in his 30s and a seven-year veteran of the police department, was hospitalized with stable vital signs.

Police Chief Jim McDonnell said at a news conference Sunday afternoon that the bullet missed the vest, but "fortunately, the nature of the injury is that he's going to be OK down the road."

The two detectives noticed some activity in the park before a vehicle with up to three males pulled up alongside them and fired shots, ABC7 reported. The injured detective had been in the driver's seat, and the other detective drove him to a hospital, according to ABC7.

A patrol officer happened to be in the area, heard the shots and fired at the suspects as they fled, Fernandez said. Investigators do not believe a suspect was hit by the officer's gunfire, he said.

The suspects remained at large.

A videographer at the scene said police found a vehicle with a bullet hole in it a few blocks to the south, on Hoffman Avenue.

Fernandez said the car may have been involved in the shooting. It has been impounded as part of the investigation, he said.

Anyone with information regarding this shooting is urged to contact detectives Terri Hubert or Peter Lackovic at 562-570-7244 or go to www.tipsoft.com and follow the prompts.