SURREY (NEWS 1130) — Police are searching for an armed man suspected of shooting a Transit Police officer at the Scott Road SkyTrain Station in Surrey around 4 p.m.

He is described as a man in his 20s with dark skin, dark hair and dark stubble. He was last seen wearing a blue hoodie and white Nike runners with a large black swoosh, and is believed to be armed. Police are warning people who live in that area to turn their exterior lights on and stay inside with their doors locked.

Take a look at the video released by @SurreyRCMP of the suspect who's believed to have shot a @TransitPolice officer. Call 911 if you see the accused. The constable is recovering in the hospital. Hopefully more details are released on Thursday. @NEWS1130 pic.twitter.com/PohzsjDFuP — Sonia Aslam (@SoniaSAslam) January 31, 2019

Police have set up a tip line for anyone with information on the shooter: 604-502-6284. They’re warning people not to approach him if they see him.

Suspect description: adult male in his 20's, with dark skin, a dark stubble goatee and moustache last seen wearing a blue hoodie. Do not approach him, call 911 if you see him. pic.twitter.com/CvukBELpw8 — Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) January 31, 2019

Transit Police say one of their on-duty male officers was shot at the SkyTrain station, and he was transported to the hospital with serious but non-life-threatening injuries.

They have identified the officer who was shot as 27-year-old Josh Harms, who was on his regular patrol shift when he was shot. Police say he is in good spirits at the hospital.

TransLink closed the Scott Road SkyTrain Station because of the incident, and put a bus bridge in place from Scott Road to Gateway Stations. A police helicopter and several dozen police vehicles, including forensic trucks are in the Bridgeview area and around the SkyTrain.

Plenty of police surround the Scott road skytrain station as police hunt for a suspect after an on duty transit officer was shot pic.twitter.com/8G30bcP25J — Jonathan Szekeres (@jonszekeres) January 31, 2019

Darren Grieve in the NEWS 1130 air patrol saw dozens of police cars in the Bridgeview neighbourhood — one of the biggest police presences he thinks he’s ever seen from the air.

“Maybe upwards of 40 or more police cars down at that Bridgeview neighbourhood close to the SkyTrain station,” he says. “There are emergencies at the Scott Road SkyTrain station as well, and the RCMP helicopter is now overhead trying to figure out what’s going on.”

We can confirm that a @TransitPolice officer has been shot and transported to an area hospital. We are actively looking for a suspect who may be armed. Please continue to avoid the area around the Scott Road Skytrain. — Surrey RCMP (@SurreyRCMP) January 31, 2019

He says when they just arrived he saw about 20 police vehicles in that neighbourhood, blocking King George Boulevard northbound, and emergency crews on scene at the SkyTrain station.

“Even as that was happening I could still see dozens of police cars coming down King George Boulevard toward the lights at 128th,” he says.

Surrey’s mayor shocked by ‘brazen’ shooting

Meanwhile, Surrey’s mayor says the shooting of the Transit Police officer is shocking, and is hoping the RCMP can catch the suspect.

Doug McCallum’s plans to scrap the RCMP haven’t changed, however.

All throughout council’s meeting, Mayor Doug McCallum’s phone continued to go off, with updates about the shooting and ensuing manhunt.

He called the shooting brazen, adding in such a crowded place, it’s lucky no one else was hurt.

“I’m very concerned about that, especially at such a public space like the Scott Road Station, that does concern me a lot,” he says.

McCallum couldn’t say identify anything that could have prevented this incident, but says he’s not backing down from his belief Surrey needs a municipal police force.

He says until Surrey has its own police, violent incidents like this could continue.

– With files from Lasia Kretzel, Marcella Bernardo, Bruce Claggett, Jonathan Szekeres