A Biloxi, Mississippi police officer was gunned down outside the police department headquarters late Sunday night.

The officer was in uniform and standing in the parking lot when the gunman approached him, shot him multiple times and fled.

The officer was rushed to the hospital and died a couple of hours later.

“It’s a very sad day for the City of Biloxi. A 24-year veteran for our department, Robert McKeithen -- and there’s no easy way to say this -- was murdered last night right here in our parking lot," said Biloxi Police Chief John Miller. “Robert was an unbelievably fine policeman. He did a great job, took care of the citizens of Biloxi for almost 24 years.”

McKeithan was planning to retire at the end of the year, Miller said.

"“He leaves behind a wife, two stepsons, and a stepdaughter. He was a wonderful family man. That’s where he spent all of his time, with his family," Miller said. "He was a very gentle man for a policeman, a likeable man who treated people with respect and dignity, and we’re going to miss him sorely.”

The shooter remains at large. He has been described as a thin man standing between 5-foot-7 and 5-foot-10 and was wearing a black t-shirt with navy blue shorts and a rolled up skull beanie. Sister station WLOX tweeted a surveillance still of the suspect, which can be seen below.

“The animal that did this is still on the run. and we’re going to do everything within our power to bring him to justice for Robert and his family and for the men and women in the police department and for the citizens of Biloxi,” Miller said.

Miller said he does not know what led up to the shooting.