CENTRAL CITY — Central City police continue to investigate the Friday night shooting of a 27-year-old Centralia man.

According to Police Chief Jamie Ramsey, the victim was struck multiple times in the lower abdomen and upper leg area. He says he’s expected to survive and has identified the shooter.

The victim was initially taken to SSM Health St. Mary’s Hospital before being transported via ambulance to a St. Louis area hospital as fog prohibited a medical helicopter transport.

Ramsey says it’s believed the shooting started in the street on West Hardin, but the victim ran into a yard in the 100 block of North Marion Street where he collapsed.

The chief says it appears the suspect continued to shoot the victim from about 20 feet away as the victim lay in the yard.

The victim reportedly told police he played dead in hopes the suspect would stop shooting him.

Ramsey says the suspect then fled east on foot before climbing into a white vehicle that fled south on Poplar Street. Police located the vehicle about 45 minutes later parked outside a home in the 1400 block of Case Street in Wamac.

A search warrant was executed on the vehicle where officers reportedly located the suspect’s ID, and Link card, along with a Glock magazine was discovered. However, the gun has not been located.

According to Ramsey, the suspect is from Centralia but is believed to have fled the area.