It happened around 6:30 Sunday morning on the 2400 block of North 5th Street.
Police tell Action News that an officer encountered a man armed with a shotgun near the intersection of 5th and York streets.
The officer quickly called for back-up as the man walked north on 5th Street.
The suspect was ordered to drop his weapon but refused and kept walking.
As the man approached Cumberland Street, he allegedly raised his shotgun towards police.
Officers opened fire striking the man three times. The suspect was taken to Temple University Hospital in critical condition.
No word why the man was armed. The incident remains under investigation.