A 21-year-old man is in critical condition after he was shot in the face during an attempted robbery last night near 51st Street and Willows Avenue. He is expected to survive.

The victim told police that another man came up to him at about 9:45 p.m. and tried to rob him, then took out a handgun and shot him once in the mouth. The suspect then ran down 51st Street toward Pentridge.

Police said that they have encountered the victim before. “A neighborhood beef has not been ruled out,” said Joe Murray of the Southwest Detectives.