An officer was shot dead in front of a Mississippi police station a few months before his retirement.

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But these plans were interrupted Sunday night when he was shot dead in the parking lot of the police headquarters.

At around 10 pm, McKeithen was repeatedly hit in front of the Lopez Quave Public Security Center, Biloxi Police Chief John Miller said at a press conference Monday morning.

The first responders took the officer to an emergency room at a hospital where he died shortly before midnight, reported CNN affiliate WLOX.

The killer is "still on the run and we will do everything in our power to bring him to justice," said Miller.

Police identified Darian Tawan Atkinson, 19, as the suspect at a press conference held Monday night, WLOX reported.
Darian Tawan Atkinson

Miller said that the gunman had entered the police station at one point, but had not specified whether it was before or after the shooting.

The motive is still not clear. Authorities have not ruled out that it 's about a random attack.

Biloxi Police Chief John Miller placed flowers on a patrol vehicle in tribute to the late officer Robert McKeithen.

A decorated officer and family man

McKeithen has served the ministry for nearly 24 years, Miller said.

In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, McKeithen and four other officers received a medal of bravery for saving four children with special needs "who may have died" without them, Miller said.

He leaves behind a woman, a daughter, two half-sons and a daughter-in-law, Miller said. "He was a wonderful family man, it's there that he spent all his time with his family."

Biloxi Mayor Andrew Gilich told WLOX police officers "will give their lives for you".

He said the officers come to work knowing that they "may not come back from a shift and it's scary." But that also tells you something about the person who does that, and of course, Robert was that kind of person. "

CNN's Tina Burnside contributed to this report.

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