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The governor of Texas has offered a $10,000 reward for information leading to the arrest of a fugitive accused of shooting and seriously wounding a state police chief.

Gov. Greg Abbott made the announcement Friday, adding that 33-year-old Seth Altman is now on the Texas Department of Public Safety's 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list.

Altman is now wanted for attempted murder of a peace officer after he reportedly shot Rex Plant, the police chief in Memphis, about 86 miles southeast of Amarillo.

At about 10:50 p.m., Chief Plant and another officer attempted to serve a warrant for Altman's arrest on a burglary charge, the Texas Department of Public Safety told the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, part of the USA TODAY network.

While they were attempting to serve the warrant, Altman pulled out a gun, fired several times and shot Plant. The suspect fled the scene on foot and Plant was taken to a hospital in Lubbock, Gov. Abbott said in his statement.

According to the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Altman was last seen in the 200 block of South Fourth Street in Memphis on Thursday around 11 p.m. He was wearing a blue T-shirt and blue jeans.

Gov. Abbott said the suspect is 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighs 220 pounds. He has blue eyes and red or auburn hair and “should be considered armed and dangerous.”

Blue Alert wakes Texans early Friday morning

The morning after the shooting, the Texas Department of Public Safety issued a Blue Alert for Altman. According to the department, blue alerts are issued when someone is involved in the killing or serious injury of a police officer.

When the Blue Alert went off for Altman in the early hours of Friday morning, the Texans took to social media to post about it. The Montgomery County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management shared Altman's photos and also commented on them.

The office called Altman “the scumbag wanted in connection with an attack on a police officer” and released his photo. The office also said there was no update on the police chief's condition.

A woman who claimed to be a relative of the chief said on Facebook Friday evening that Plant had undergone surgery and would require further surgeries.

“Please pray for him and the family,” the woman wrote. “Pray they catch the man who shot him.”

Read more: In Hall County, Texas, a Blue Alert has been issued for a man suspected of injuring a police officer

How to give tips

Governor Abbott said those who submit tips leading to Altman's capture could receive a reward only if they submit information in the following ways:

The governor said all tips are anonymous and tipsters are assigned a tip number.

“Law enforcement officers selflessly put their lives on the line every day they put on their badge, and they deserve the assurance that they have the full support of the state of Texas,” Abbott said in his announcement.

Contributor: Alex Driggars, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal

Saleen Martin is a reporter on USA TODAY's NOW team. She is from Norfolk, Virginia – the 757. Follow her on Twitter at @SaleenMartin or send her an email at [email protected].

On By John Fenwick

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