Emergency services were called to Orsmond Street at Hindmarsh, north of the city, just before 11am on Monday after reports a man had been shot in the lower leg.

SA Police Detective Chief Inspector Charmaine Peters said the victim had been involved in a physical fight inside his car in the lead-up to the shooting.

"We do know for sure at least one person has entered the car that the victim was in," she said.

"(The victim) has eventually come out onto the footpath, and it's continued onto the footpath."

Witnesses reported a single shot being fired before the duo made off in their car, a white Toyota Yaris, and the victim's hire car, a silver Holden Commodore sedan with Victorian registration.

The Commodore was located about 2pm at Bowden, north of the city, while police are still looking for a late-model Yaris with front-end damage.

The victim, a 30 or 31-year-old man, was taken to the Royal Adelaide Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

Insp Peters said he is known to police but does not have a criminal history.

"He's not speaking at this stage," she said.

"He has been with the surgeon all morning. I'm sure at some stage he will co-operate with us and tell us what has actually occurred."

Police do not believe the incident was a random attack, and say their focus is now on making arrests.

"We have a person who has been shot and we have two people out there, possible one armed with a firearm, and our intention is to try and find that person or those responsible," Insp Peters said.

Australian Associated Press