Memphis police are dealing with their third officer-involved shooting of the new year after an officer shot and critically wounded a man outside of an East Memphis convenience store Wednesday evening.

The shooting took place in the Orange Mound district at the Quick and Easy convenience store on South Highland shortly before 6:30 p.m.

An officer responded to a report after someone called police that three men were in the convenience store parking lot and that one of the men was armed. The caller also said that he overheard the males stating that they were going to rob someone.

When the officer pulled into the parking lot, he noticed one of the males leaning against a vehicle, the police report said. The male officer armed himself with his duty weapon "and gave verbal commands to the male," police spokeswoman Sgt. Karen Rudolph said in the police report.

The male suspect pulled a handgun from the vehicle and pointed it at the officer, and the officer shot at the suspect.

The victim was transported to The MED. It is unclear where the man was shot or how many bullets were discharged from the officer's service weapon.

The officer was not injured in the confrontation and has been relieved of duty with pay pending an investigation, which is standard police procedure.

This is the third officer-involved shooting by Memphis police in January. On Jan. 17 two officers shot and killed a man who brandished a gun while sitting in a car in an apartment parking lot. On Jan. 6, another Memphis police officer shot and killed a Cordova man who was hoarding a variety of animals in his home when the homeowner pointed a gun at police.