A man was shot in the face -- likely by an acquaintance -- in the Silver Terrace neighborhood early this morning and  was able to describe the alleged shooter, despite the extreme wound, leading to an arrest.

The 45-year-old man was walking near Third Street and Palou Avenue just before 2 a.m. when he turned the corner and encountered another man with a gun, said San Francisco police spokesman Sgt. Michael Andraychak.

The victim was shot in the face, but is expected to survive and was able to give officers a description of his alleged shooter when they arrived, said Andraychak.

Police a few blocks away arrested Charles Sullivan, 57 and a San Francisco resident, because he matched the description and they had found a handgun nearby, Andraychak said.

“I believe he was somehow acquainted,” he said.

Andraychak, however, said he did not have specifics.

The contents of the victim’s wallet were missing, but Andraychak said he was unsure if that was related.

Sullivan was booked with four charges including attempted murder, a robbery felon possessing a firearm, carrying a loaded firearm and carrying a concealed weapon.

kkelkar@sfexaminer.com