A weatherman in Waco, Texas was shot three times in his car outside his local TV station on Wednesday, kicking off a major manhunt for the gunman.

The suspect struck up a brief conversation with Patrick Crawford, KCEN’s morning show meteorologist, before shooting into his vehicle, the Department of Public Safety told the Waco Tribune-Herald.

The shooter took off as Crawford drove a short way to a construction site and hollered for help, despite his gunshot wounds.

Crawford underwent surgery later Wednesday, ABC News reported.

DPS troopers and dogs searched for the gunman, the Tribune-Herald reported. Authorities took a man into custody at one point but later said he was not the suspect, according to the newspaper.

The motive for the shooting remained unclear.

“Whether they know each other or it’s a random shooting, we don’t know that yet,” Trooper D.L. Wilson told ABC.