According to police, officers were called to the plaza for reports of a car club racing. The teen pulled out a gun, refused to drop it and that's when he was shot.
"Full police presence. It was taped off," said Ronald Davis, who shops at a grocery store in that plaza.
Davis was not present at the time of the incident, but he arrived early Sunday morning to get groceries.
"I first thought it was a killing or shooting,' he explained. "Did somebody try to rob somebody? When you see a heavy police presence it's not because someone won the lottery.
The officer has been identified as Corporal McQueen, an 18-year veteran of the department who is now on administrative leave. Durham police are charging the teen through a juvenile petition with assault with a firearm on an officer, possession of a handgun by a minor and resisting an officer.
"The first question that came to mind was why is a 16-year-old out at that time of night," questioned Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams.
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ABC11 Eyewitness News spoke to the victim's uncle over the phone. He said his nephew had surgery Sunday and was set to undergo another round Monday. He said a bullet is still lodged in him. Eyewitness News asked where the teenager got the weapon from. The uncle said he didn't know.
Eyewitness News is also learning this is not the first time the car club met in the parking lot. An employee at a nearby business said a few months back somebody with the car club moved one of the Food Lion car carousels to likely make room for racing.
Regency Centers owns Woodcroft Shopping Center and released this statement to ABC11:
We are proud that our shopping centers are places where retailers and service providers connect with the surrounding neighborhoods and communities.
We have security at our centers, and our security service was present at Woodcroft until midnight on the night of the incident. Our security observed the car activity in the parking lot and contacted the police. The unfortunate incident occurred after our retail establishments were closed and security had left the premises. An email was sent to all tenants at the property, making them aware of the incident. The email stated that an investigation was pending and that businesses should continue to operate as usual.