A Waco area meteorologist was shot Wednesday morning as he left a television station after finishing his morning broadcast. According to Police reports, Patrick Crawford was in the parking lot of KCEN-TV, Crawford was approached by an unknown assailant as he was attempting to get into his Mustang.

The meteorologist reportedly exchanged words with the suspect before the man opened fire on him. It was not clear whether they had a heated conversation, or if the suspect approached him in a calm manner.

After being struck multiple times in the torso, Crawford reportedly threw his vehicle in reverse, and was able to put some distance between himself and the gunman. Crawford then drove his vehicle out of the parking lot and across the I-35 on ramp before crashing his vehicle. Construction workers gave first aid to Crawford until Paramedics arrived on scene.

Crawford was reportedly transported by ambulance to Baylor Scott & White Hospital in Temple where he underwent surgery. According to Texas Department of Public Safety Trooper D.L. Wilson, Crawford was in “fair condition and is resting comfortably.”

Dozens of law enforcement officers converged on the area in an attempt to locate the gunman. “The gunman fled on foot after the shooting, and evidently ran into a wooded area behind the station, which remained a focus of the search Wednesday afternoon,” Wilson said in news conference Wednesday afternoon.

“The gunman is white, in his mid-30s, balding, and was wearing a dark hooded sweatshirt and dark jeans”, Wilson said. “He’s armed with a semi-automatic handgun.”

“We’re going to do whatever possible to get this guy.” TrooperWilson added. “We’re not going to rest until this is dealt with. We want to make sure this community is safe and it’s our job to do so.”

Officers, deputies and Texas Rangers conducted building and yard searches, along with stopping vehicles on I-35, asking motorists if they can look inside the trunks of vehicles. Several hours into the manhunt officers detained a male and questioned him for a short time, however they later reported that he was not the suspect and he was released.

Officers form the Texas Department of Public Safety along with Deputies from the Bell County Sheriff’s office reportedly asked KCEN employees to evacuate their building. Officers assisted by a K9 unit conducted a room by room tactical search. After authorities cleared the building, they had the employees relocate from the parking lot to the interior of the TV Station.

Authorities also had schools in the Bruceville-Eddy school district, along with Lorena and Moody Schools on lockdown because of the shooting, the lockdown was lifted as students were released for the day.

Texas DPS is the lead agency into the shooting investigation. A number of shots were fired at Crawford’s car, but authorities say detectives have not determined exactly how many.

According to KCEN-TV’s online profile, Crawford joined KCEN in September 2012 after working for an NBC affiliate in New Orleans. Crawford grew up in Plano, TX., he graduated from Northern Illinois University earning his degree in meteorology.