A man has been stabbed to death outside a shopping centre in Elizabeth, in Adelaide's north, in what police believe was a targeted attack.

The 25-year-old man from Blakeview was left bloodied and helpless after being stabbed shortly before 7pm outside Elizabeth Shopping Centre.

The centre was open for late-night shopping at the time, and numerous witnesses saw the bloodied attack.

A father-of-three was stabbed to death outside a shopping centre in Elizabeth. (9NEWS)

A relative told 9NEWS the man was a loving father. (9NEWS)

He was taken to Royal Adelaide Hospital, but died hours later.

A relative told 9NEWS the victim was a “loving father” of three young children.

A witness said the attack was "definitely scary".

“There were cops going everywhere and roads getting blocked off. I saw cops and ambulances everywhere, I heard screams. It was absolutely crazy,” Will Collins said.

“There are a lot of people very frightened right now.”

The wanted man fled on foot with a woman who had a baby in a pram, and is still on the run.

The offender fled on foot with a woman. (9NEWS)

Police are treating the stabbing as a targeted attack. (9NEWS)

Police believe he was heading to a nearby train station. He is believed to be Caucasian in appearance, aged in his late 20s with a slim build.

He is between 170cm and 180cm tall with short, brown hair and blue eyes.