FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WOWO): Fort Wayne Police say a teenager was shot by a police officer Tuesday afternoon on Fort Wayne’s southeast side.

Police were patrolling the area near the 2800 block of Smith Street because of the increased gun violence in the area, according to the Fort Wayne Police Department.

An unmarked police vehicle was in the area at about 1:25 p.m. and three people approached the vehicle. When the uniformed officer got out of the car, he noticed one person had a handgun. The officer asked them to drop the gun and they ran away. The officer ran after them and fired his gun multiple times.

A teenage boy was hit by at least one bullet and then hospitalized. The two other suspects got away.

Police say the boy is in serious but stable condition as of 3:45 p.m. Tuesday.

The police officer involved in the shooting will be placed on paid administrative leave. During his leave, Fort Wayne detectives and Indiana State Police will each conduct an investigation into the shooting.

This is the fourth shooting investigation in Fort Wayne this week.