TRACY, Calif. — Tracy Police Department officials say detectives are launching an investigation after an officer shot a 17-year-old Friday afternoon. As of Sunday, police officials say the teen's condition is improving and he is awake and talking.
Police say the shooting happened around at 1:47 p.m. at the intersection of Mosswood and Foxtail Way.
Multiple calls were made to police regarding "suspicious circumstances" surrounding a man chasing another man while wielding a knife, officials said.
When police arrived on scene, an officer spotted the teenager with the knife and ordered him to put it down when he began approaching the officer.
Officials say the officer feared for his safety after telling the victim to drop the knife, resulting in him being shot. A large knife was recovered from the scene.
The victim was transported to the hospital in "serious but stable condition," according to officials.
One neighbor said they could hear a woman wailing from down the street after the teenager was shot.
“It’s a tragic accident, I think it’s going to be tragic for the family. I think the police did the right thing in what the response was, I just don’t think [the teenager] understood their actions and then the reaction that therefore got him shot,” said the neighbor.
The local Imam at the Islamic Society of Tracy stood outside the caution tape, waiting with community members. They had just seen the teenager at prayer earlier that day.
Some community members are outraged that this shooting happened the same day video of Sacramento native Tyre Nichols was released, showing the actions of five officers who now face murder charges.
“This is happening almost everyday now in communities like Tracy where you know people never expect it to happen,” said another neighbor.
No officer sustained injuries during the incident.
Tracy police say they intend to release body camera footage sometime this weekend.
WATCH MORE ON ABC10: 5 Memphis cops face murder charges in death of Sacramento native Tyre Nichols
