An East Baltimore man was in stable condition today after he was shot in the chest last night by a police officer.

According to police reports, Officer Michael McGee, 27, of the Eastern District and another officer, whose name was not available, were in the 1500 block of Bethel St. shortly after 10 p.m. when they were flagged down by two people who told them that a woman on a nearby street was carrying a gun.

The two officers went to the 1600 block of E. Federal St., police said, and saw a woman in the company of a man. And as the two officers approached, they said, the woman gave the gun to the man.

Then, the officers reported, the man and woman turned and began running from the officers.

Police said Officer McGee chased the man and his partner ran after the woman.

After a short chase in the 1600 block of E. Federal St., Officer McGee ordered the man to stop, police said.

When the man refused and was facing the officer with the gun in his hand, Officer McGee fired one shot from his 9mm semi-automatic handgun, police said, but did not wound the man.

Police said the gunman fell to the ground, got up and pointed his handgun at Officer McGee, who fired a second shot, which struck the man in the right side of the chest.

At the sound of the gunfire, Officer McGee's partner broke off chasing the woman and ran to assist his fellow officer.

The woman is still being sought, police said.

The wounded man, Bernard Hilton, 22, of the 1000 block of Abbott Court, was taken by ambulance to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

At the scene, police recovered a silver-plated .32 caliber handgun the man had carried.

Police said the first shot fired by Officer McGee apparently passed through the man's clothing and struck the wall of a nearby building.

Neither officer was injured, police said.