The suspect in last week’s shooting of an 8-year-old boy in Concord was unarmed as he ran toward a police officer and reached for his waistband to pull up his pants when the officer shot him Monday afternoon in Fairfield, officials said Tuesday.

James Jarrard, 32, was shot once in the neck by Officer Zachary Sandoval, a member of the Fairfield Police Department for nine years. As of Tuesday afternoon, Jarrard was recovering at a hospital and his condition was stable. Once he can be discharged, he will be booked at Solano County Jail on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a stolen car, resisting arrest, possession of methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia and violation of his state parole.

Officers arrived at the Lowe’s parking lot on the 3300 block of North Texas Street after a man called police saying he recognized the suspect from media reports. The man tailed the suspect and gave dispatchers the license plate number, which matched a car stolen from Walnut Creek, officials said.

Jarrard was outside of the car when he saw the police, officials said. He ran through the parking lot, then behind a business as officers gave chase and ordered him to stop, police said.

The suspect rounded a corner and appeared to be reaching for his waistband as he ran toward Sandoval, who was trying to cut him off, officials said. Sandoval, police said, didn’t have anywhere to run or seek cover and thought Jarrard was reaching for a weapon. The officer fired two shots from his duty pistol, one of which struck the right side of the suspect’ neck.

“You’ve got a retaining wall on one side and a business on the other side,” Lt. Rob Lenke, a police spokesman, said of Sandoval’s predicament. “There’s really nowhere for him to go.”

Officers administered medical aid until paramedics arrived, police said. They also searched Jarrard and the area where he was chased and shot, but found no weapons. Police said that during questioning, Jarrard told investigators that he was reaching down to pull up his pants when he was shot.

Sandoval has been placed on paid administrative leave as the police department and Solano County district attorney’s office investigate the shooting.

Jarrard was wanted on a $1.1 million arrest warrant after he allegedly drove up to a house in Concord and shot an 8-year-old boy playing outside. The boy was surrounded by family members, including some who knew Jarrard, and it was unclear for whom the bullet was intended, officials said.

The boy, who was also shot in the neck, is expected to survive his injuries.

Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov