Police say the incident began just before 7:30 p.m. when officers saw a 19-year-old man put a gun in his waistband as he was walking on the 4900 block of Griscom Street.
Officials say the officers approached the teen and he then fled on foot.
Police say he ran north on Griscom to a vacant lot, while being pursued by the uniformed officers.
Chief Inspector Scott Small told Action News the man pulled out the handgun and three 15th district uniformed officers told him to put the gun down. When the man refused to do so, police fired several shots at the teen striking him in the torso area.
"All three officers ordered the male to drop the weapon several times, the male refused, that's why the male was shot," Small said.
A 9mm semi-automatic handgun was recovered next to where the man collapsed.
It was unclear if the suspect fired off any rounds, but police are investigating.
The 19-year-old was taken from Aria Health's Frankford Campus to the trauma center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in critical, but stable condition.
Police have stepped up patrols in the area where the teen was found after several armed robberies.
There is no indication the 19-year-old suspect is connected to the armed robberies or if he has any prior record.
The officers involved in the incident were taken to Internal Affairs for questioning, which is police protocol.
This is the third reported police involved shooting in as many days.
Friday night, authorities say a man shot at officers following a foot chase in North Philadelphia. He was later taken into custody.
On Thursday, /*Officer Kevin Livewell*/ was shot in the leg after he and his partner pulled over van in West Kensington. Earlier Saturday, police released a photo of the suspected shooter Anel Cuenas. The driver of the van was taken into custody a short time after the shooting.
