WAVE The Army base in Fort Knox, Ky., remained on heightened security late Wednesday.

Investigators were hunting a male suspect Thursday after a civilian employee died in a shooting at the Army base in Fort Knox, Ky. Officials described the shooting as a “personal incident.”

The base was briefly locked down and remained on heightened security Wednesday night.

The victim, who was an employee of U.S. Army Human Resources Command, was transported by ambulance to Ireland Army Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to a statement from the public affairs office of the base.

The incident was “not a random act of violence," said Chris Grey, spokesperson for the independent Army investigative agency.

Police are looking for a 5-foot, 9-inch black male with black hair and brown eyes, the statement read. It is believed he may be using a black Yamaha motorcycle for transportation.

The victim's name is being withheld until family members are notified.

The shooting occurred shortly after 5 p.m. ET. The base was placed on full lockdown, but it was lifted early Wednesday evening, the official said.

The military base, which sprawls over 170 miles in three counties about 30 miles south of Louisville, Ky., is separate from but adjacent to the famous federal gold depository.

The incident came less than two weeks after a U.S. Marine shot two colleagues to death at the Marine Corps base in Quantico, Virginia, before killing himself.

NBC News' Courtney Kube and Becky Bratu contributed to this report.

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