WACO, Texas – Police have released a composite sketch of the person they say is the shooter who fired 13 shots at a television meteorologist in Central Texas.
The shooting happened about 9:30 a.m. Wednesday in the parking lot of the Waco NBC affiliate in Bruceville-Eddy, some 75 miles north of Austin.
"It was terrifying. It was terrifying, and to be holed up in that room and not able to do anything about it, I think, was the toughest part," said Matt Gebhard, the assistant news director at KCEN-TV.
"The more cop cars that came by, we knew something was happening and we heard somebody had been shot, that was kind of a surprise," said Danny Hamons.
According to the Texas Department of Public Safety, KCEN morning meteorologist Patrick Crawford was leaving the station when he was confronted by a man he didn't recognize in the parking lot.
As Crawford tried to make his way to his car, he and the man spoke a few words to each other before the man allegedly opened fire.
Texas DPS said the gunman fired 13 rounds at Crawford, hitting him at least twice.
"All of us are trying to be journalists, but it's kind of hard to be journalists when one of your colleagues is in the hospital in surgery," said Crystal Pratt, a producer at KCEN.
Luckily, Crawford was able to get away from his attackers and find help.
"He did an excellent job getting in the car, speeding off and probably saving his life," said Trooper D.L. Wilson, with Texas DPS.
Crawford drove to a nearby construction site, where workers tried to help him while paramedics arrived.
"We heard him yelling and screaming. He said "I've been shot! I've been shot!" said Richard Dieter, one of the two construction workers who helped Crawford.
Crawford had been shot in the abdomen and the bullets also grazed his shoulder and head.
"Looked like serious wounds, bleeding pretty badly. I went and got some paper towels out of my truck," said Dieter.
"Bandaging those wounds and trying to help with any kind of blood loss is certainly appreciated from our perspective," said Dr. Matthew Davis, a trauma surgeon and Trauma Program Director at Scott & White Memorial Hospital in Temple, TX. "He's a very resilient young man and so I anticipate that he'll do very well."
Crawford underwent a 2 hour surgery as a result of his injuries.
Meanwhile, state troopers swarmed the television station after the shooting, retracing the gunman's steps and analyzing the empty shell casings as they launched a manhunt to find Crawford's attacker.
KCEN and nearby schools were put on lockdown.
Crawford's friends and colleagues took to social media to send him their well wishes, using the hashtag "#oursuperman" and changing their profile pictures to the Superman logo, Crawford's childhood hero.
Police said the man who they believe shot Crawford may have left the area.
The station's news director released the following statement about the incident:
"Early this morning KCEN-HD News received the devastating news that one of our own, Texas Today Meteorologist Patrick Crawford, had been shot in front of our building. He is currently at Baylor Scott and White Hospital in Temple after undergoing surgery. He is in stable condition and resting. The shooter, as of this note, has not been caught. We do not know who the shooter was or if he is connected in any way to KCEN or its employees. Patrick's wife, of just over a year, Heather Crawford, who is also a KCEN employee, is with him now at the hospital. Patrick has been with KCEN for two years after leaving the NBC affiliate in New Orleans. He is a loved member of the KCEN family and our thoughts and prayers go out to him, Heather and their family."
Doctors at Scott & White Memorial Hospital said Crawford is in "good spirits" and recovering quickly.
He is expected to be released from the hospital in about 5 days.