Police are seeking a suspect in a Wednesday afternoon shooting that resulted in a man being airlifted to a Savannah hospital.

The unidentified male victim was “conscious and alert,” but detectives were unable to question him after the shooting as he was taken to East Georgia Regional Medical Center and then immediately flown to Memorial Hospital in Savannah, said Statesboro Police Chief Mike Broadhead.

Around 4:15 p.m., the man was shot in a Butler Homes apartment on Johnson Street, he said. The victim suffered a single gunshot wound to the abdomen.

Police responded to the scene and “we thought we had a suspect in the park” near West Jones Avenue he said. However, no suspect was located, even with assistance from the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office deputies and K9 units.

Officers and deputies surrounded the area, setting up a perimeter, but the suspect possibly left in a vehicle before law enforcement arrival, he said.

Police did recover a firearm in the vicinity, but it is unclear whether the handgun was the one involved in the shooting. However, it is “likely,” Broadhead said.

Detectives worked into the evening questioning witnesses and gathering evidence, he said.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Statesboro Police Department at 912-764-9911.

Tips may be made anonymously online at www.tipsoft.com or by sending the text “TIPSSPD” followed by your message to 274637(CRIMES).

Herald reporter Holli Deal Saxon may be reached at (912) 489-9414