A prominent Georgia businessman was murdered outside a CVS on Thursday in what authorities say appears to have been an attempted carjacking or robbery, WSB-TV reports.

Jack Hough, 73, was sitting in his car around 7:45 p.m. Thursday waiting for his wife, who was inside the Gainesville store. A man approached Hough’s Mercedes and a struggle ensued, ending with the man shooting Hough in the chest.

Hough was rushed to the Northeast Georgia Medical Center in Gainesville, where he was pronounced dead, according to The Times.

“She goes in the store to make a purchase, and he stays in the vehicle,” Chief Jay Parrish told The Times.

Police have described the suspect as a black male wearing all black clothing, including a mask and a hoodie. Witnesses reported seeing him wandering the store’s parking lot before the encounter.

The gunman fled the scene and police have not yet caught him, despite deploying K-9 units and a helicopter. He may have had an accomplice who drove a getaway vehicle, according to investigators.

An image of the masked suspect was captured by surveillance cameras.

Hough was an Air Force veteran and was widely known in the community as a businessman and philanthropist. He had built a successful company operating food courts in airports and malls around the United States.

Friend Ron Clark told WDUN that Hough helped others and was a great asset to the community.

“Jack was a fine Southern Gentleman. [He was] always trying to help others. A great community volunteer.”

Parrish said someone knows the identity of the assailant.

“I hope they can’t sleep until they come and let us know what they know,” Parrish said, adding that he is especially saddened for Hough’s widow.

“I can’t imagine what it would be like to walk out of that business and find citizens rendering aide to my spouse. That’s what breaks my heart and keeps me up and driven to find this man,” Parrish said.

By Friday, flowers had been placed in the parking space where the shooting occurred.

To report information about the case, call the Gainesville Police Department at 770-534-5252.

[Feature Photo: Jack Hough/Facebook;]