Officials were searching for a gunman who shot a Banks County sheriff’s deputy in the chest at the Tanger Outlet mall in Commerce about 4:30 p.m. Wednesday.

The deputy was wearing a bulletproof vest and is expected to be OK, but the suspect ran off, GBI spokeswoman Nelly Miles said.

Deputies first responded to a reported armed robbery in progress at the Atlanta Dragway, the sheriff’s office said in a news release. The suspect stole a car and drove toward the outlet mall.

When a deputy tried to pull the car over, the driver got out and shot the deputy, who was still in his patrol car, the release said.

The suspect continued to run and deputies were last searching in the area of Steve Reynolds Industrial Parkway.

The man is believed to be armed with two weapons. He is described as in his 40s with short hair, approximately 6 feet tall and 170 pounds. He was last seen wearing dark clothing.

The deputy was taken to a nearby hospital in stable condition.

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