A sheriff's deputy in Maine was shot dead while on Tuesday night by a suspect who then took his patrol car and is still on the run.

Thirteen-year veteran Corporal Eugene Cole, 61,was shot dead at 1.14am in Norridgewock, allegedly by 29-year-old John Williams.

He was killed on U.S. Route 2 in Norridgewock about 60 miles west of Bangor.

Dashcam footage taken on Cole's car minutes before he was shot dead was released on Wednesday by the sheriff's office.

The camera caught Williams entering the store at 1.40am then emerging a minute later. Cole was shot at 1.45am.

Corporal Eugene Cole, 61, was shot dead in the early hours of Wednesday morning allegedly by John Williams, 29, who is still on the run after stealing his police cruiser. He is seen (right) in an old booking photograph for an unrelated crime

Dashcam footage from Cole's patrol car minutes before he was shot shows Williams entering the store (left) and emerging a minute later at 1.41am. Cole was shot at 1.45am

This is the Cumberland Farm's store which Williams robbed after allegedly shooting the cop. It is pictured on Wednesday after he left

Corporal Cole had worked for the force for 13 years

Initially, it was reported that Cole was responding to a robbery at a Cumberland Farm 's store.

Somerset County Sheriff however believes Williams went to the store after shooting dead the officer then robbed it.

He then fled the scene in the cruiser. It was found abandoned at 5am.

Police are now hunting for the 29-year-old and their search has put the area somewhat on lockdown.

Corporal Cole was a father-of-one who has worked for the force for 13 years.

'He was one of the finest deputies that you would want to meet,' Somerset County Sheriff Dale Lancaster said.

Williams is described as 5-foot-6, 120 pounds with blue eyes and brown hair worn in a ponytail.

By the afternoon, police had closed in on his home.

Deputies were seen pointing their rifles at the property where they believe he is hiding.

A Maine State Police Trooper points his rifle at Williams' home on Wednesday afternoon

Police in Maine are still hunting the suspect. He abandoned the cruiser and it is not known how he is now getting around