NEW YORK—Two days after police officer Justin Volpe confessed that he sodomized Abner Louima and on the same day the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights held a hearing here on the extent of misconduct and abuse in the New York police department, the department’s notorious Street Crime Unit struck again.

Dontae Johnson, 16, was shot by a police officer May 26, after he ran from officers in the Bronx, the police say. Officers Mark Conway, Terrence O’Toole, and Michael Fraterrigo, driving an unmarked car, spotted a group of 30 to 40 people in front of a housing project about 12:20 a.m.

Two of the youths in the group, according to the police, made "gestures" as if they were concealing weapons in their pants. As they approached the group, Mr. Johnson and Kyle Thompson took off running with the officers in pursuit. Two of the officers apprehended Mr. Thompson, and Officer Conway, in the car, chased Mr. Johnson.

While still in the car, Officer Conway caught Mr. Johnson and a struggle between them ensued. "The officer had Dontae by his jacket, but he was trying to take it off to get free, then I heard a shot," one eyewitness told reporters.

It has not been determined whether the bullet that struck Mr. Johnson entered his buttocks and came out through his abdomen or vice-versa. He remains in serious condition at a hospital in the Bronx where he resides.

Officials at the NYPD are ruling the shooting an accident and said the incident is under investigation. Officer Conway has given no account of what happened, apparently exercising the infamous 48-hour rule which allows an officer two days before he has to offer a full report. "He must have three arms," said the Rev. Al Sharpton, who was among several community activists comforting the family. "How is it possible for him to drive the car, hold the youngster with one hand, and shoot him at the same time. Obviously, one hand was on the steering wheel and the other held the gun."

Mr. Johnson’s grandmother and aunt were outraged by the shooting, charging the police with unnecessary violence. "He’s a good boy who is never in trouble," said his grandmother. "He does well in school and he doesn’t go around bothering people." Mr. Johnson attends Evander Childs High School in the Bronx.

"It’s absolutely astounding that this young kid would wind up being shot by a police officer in this atmosphere," said Ron Daniels, executive director of the Center for Constitutional Rights. "There’s no reason that a 16-year-old who was unarmed should end up being shot."