REGINA — A 27-year-old man is recovering in hospital after he was shot by a Regina police officer.

Investigators said officers were called early Sunday morning to a central-area home where a man inside was reportedly waving around a long-barrelled gun and threatening people. When they arrived, they found a male with a firearm in the back yard.

"He was given instructions to drop the weapon but did not follow police commands," police Chief Troy Hagen told reporters several hours after the shooting. "At approximately 12:15 a.m., a Regina police officer discharged their firearm."'

Police said one shot was fired, striking the man in the torso. He was taken to hospital where he was listed in stable condition. His name has not been released and there is no indication whether he will face charges.

Police also said the officer who fired the shot has just under five years of experience.

Hagen said incidents like this can unfold very quickly.

"So there's split-second decisions in some cases and an officer has the authority to discharge their weapon when they feel that there's going to be imminent harm."

It's expected that the RCMP will oversee an investigation into the shooting, which is the first involving police in Regina since August 2008.