A black teenager is suing the white Virginia police officer who shot him in the back as he was fleeing a burglary scene in a shocking $2.35million lawsuit.

Deontrace Ward, 19, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday morning against Portsmouth Police Officer Jeremy Durocher in Portsmouth Circuit Court.

Durocher, a rookie cop, was not in his police uniform when he shot Ward on October 29, 2017 while he was responding to a report of a burglary, in an incident all caught on the officer's body camera.

It's not clear why he had the camera on him while he was not wearing an official uniform.

The officer saw Ward running away from the scene and opened fire. Two first shots missed Ward and the third hit him square in the back.

Deontrace Ward, 19, launched a $2.35million lawsuit against Portsmouth Police Officer Jeremy Durocher on Tuesday for exhibiting gross negligence and battery by shooting him in the back on October 29, 2017

'As [Ward] hopped over a fence, [Durocher] steadied himself and as if hunting wild game, took careful aim at [Ward] and fired two more shots at [Ward] as [Ward] continued to run away,' the lawsuit says.

He was hit by at least two bullets and suffered 'serious and debilitating' injuries, according to the lawsuit.

The lawsuit, filed by Attorney S.W. Dawson, alleges Durocher exhibited gross negligence and battery in the incident.

Officer Durocher said after the incident he opened fire because he saw a gun in the man's hands.

However, Ward denied ever pulling the weapon, even though one was found in his right pant leg.

The incident was all caught on Durocher's body camera and shows that Ward did not point a gun at Durocher.

Deontrace Ward, 19, filed the lawsuit on Tuesday morning against Portsmouth Police Officer Jeremy Durocher in Portsmouth Circuit Court. He's currently in jail serving out a six year sentence for the burglary

Durocher was indicted a year after the incident on charges of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of use of a firearm. If convicted, he could face life in prison

In response to the lawsuit Durocher's attorney Nicholas Renninger called it an attempted to 'sensationalize this event'. Durocher pictured above

The lawsuit says that Durocher never identified himself as a police officer and was not in uniform. It also says that Durocher never ordered Ward to drop his weapon.

It alleges that Durocher acted as 'judge, jury and nearly executioner' and that Ward wants 'personal justice'.

'The central issue in this case is whether my client had a gun in his hand as he ran away. We believe the video is clear that he did not,' Dawson said.

In response to the lawsuit Durocher's attorney Nicholas Renninger called it an attempted to 'sensationalize this event'.

'Office Durcoher acted reasonably under the circumstances to apprehend Ward, who was a fleeing felon and posed a significant threat of death or serious physical injury to the officer or others,' he said to WTKR.

Durocher was not wearing his police uniform at the time of the shooting and the entire incident was caught on his body camera

Ward was hit by at least two bullets and suffered 'serious and debilitating' injuries, according to the lawsuit

Footage from Durocher's bodycam shows Ward on the ground after being shot in October 2017

'Characterizing Officer Durocher’s actions as somehow being reckless and 'hunting wild game' is an affront to every police officer who acts diligently to protect citizens from dangerous felons like Ward,' he added.

Following the incident, Ward pleaded guilty in June 2018 to breaking into a home on the 1100 block of Tatem Avenue and stealing jewelry and illegally possessing a firearm, according to The Virginia-Pilot.

He is currently serving a six-year sentence in jail.

Durocher was indicted a year after the incident on charges of aggravated malicious wounding and one count of use of a firearm. If convicted, he could face life in prison.

After the shooting Durocher was named officer of the month and was given a medal of valor for his 'heroic' efforts. He scheduled to go on trial in June and has been on administrative duty following the incident.

The police department has not commented on the lawsuit.