JACKSON, Miss. -- A 16-year-old was hospitalized Thursday after being shot by his neighbor.

Police said it happened during an alleged home burglary on McDowell Park Circle in Jackson at about 9 a.m.

Family members identified the teen as Richard McCoy. He's being treated at Central Mississippi Medical Center for a gunshot wound to the torso.

Mark Nelson, 49, told police he heard rustling at his back door, then saw a man with his face covered and a knife in his hand standing in the hallway.

Nelson said he told the man to leave, but the man moved toward him. That's when Nelson said he fired the shot.

Police said McCoy ran back to his home and his mother called police.

News of the shooting surprised McCoy's uncle, who said the teen had never been in trouble.

"It's summertime, though," he said. "Kids don't have nothing to do -- they get into all kinds of stuff. But as far as I know, he was a good kid."

Officers took Nelson downtown for questioning but are not planning to file any charges.

Detectives found a knife in the house, and a white T-shirt they believe was used as the mask in Nelson's back yard.