Andrew Simmons, 26, is being sought in connection to the shooting of a Navy sailor on Thanksgiving Day. (Source: Broward Sheriff's Office)

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FT LAUDERDALE (CBSMiami) – Broward sheriff’s detectives have named an Oakland Park man a person of interest in the Thanksgiving Day shooting of an active-duty sailor.

Anthon Adams, 29, is listed in critical condition. He’s undergone several surgeries but had lost a lot of blood from being shot multiple times

Broward Sheriff’s detectives said Adams was at his family’s Thanksgiving celebration in North Lauderdale which ended in tears when he was shot.

Adams who is serving his second tour with the Navy had driven down from his base in Georgia to see his family especially his two daughters, 8 and 9-years old.

“He lives for his girls” his mother Sandra Adams told CBS4.” Every chance he gets, he’s here to see them.”

Adams was in front of his mother’s apartment at 7491 SW 10th Court with his brother when four men confronted his brother and started a fight.

Adams tried to break up the fight when one of the suspects started firing.

Anthon’s mother Sandra Adams said her son’s children were outside playing when the shooting started.

“We were having fun laughing and eating and the day just ended,” said Sandra Adams. “I heard the shots and ran out.”

He was shot several times. One bullet hit the femoral artery in his leg causing him to lose a great deal of blood.

The shooter fled, leaving a family stunned and in tears.

He was rushed to Broward Health North in critical condition.

According to CBS4’s news partner the Miami Herald, investigators are now searching for 26-year-old Andrew Simmons of Oakland Park. Simmons is a career offender, and was released from jail three weeks before the shooting, BSO said.

Police have not said that Simmons was the shooter; they simply believe he is connected.

Anyone who can identify the shooter is urged to call Crime Stoppers at (954) 493-TIPS. Crime Stoppers will pay up to $3,000 for information that leads to an arrest.

(©2014 CBS Local Media, a division of CBS Radio Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. CBS4 news partner The Miami Herald contributed material for this report.)

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