A Picayune man was shot Wednesday evening when an unknown suspect stole his car.

The victim, Donald Smooth Jr., apparently thought the suspect was a friend playing a joke and turned around, only to be shot twice during the car-jacking.

The incident took place Wednesday just before 7 p.m. at P.C.’s Car Wash on U.S. 11 across the street from Winn-Dixie, said Picayune Police Public Information Officer Theresa Milar. As the victim, 33 year-old Smooth, was cleaning his car at the car wash. an unknown black male walked up from behind and demanded Smooth’s keys.

Smooth hesitated, thinking it was someone playing a joke. Several shots were fired as Smooth went to turn around to face the suspect. One shot hit Smooth in his forearm and another hit him in his stomach.

The suspect got into Smooth’s white, 1991 Chevrolet Caprice with 22-inch chrome rims and left the scene.

“There was very little conversation whatsoever. It was pretty much ‘turn over your keys right now’,” Milar said.

Milar said Smooth then stumbled across the street to the Winn-Dixie parking lot where a passerby saw him and checked on him, calling 911. Emergency services were called out and Smooth was taken to a Hattiesburg hospital. He was last listed in fair condition.

Investigators are working around the clock to find the suspect. This incident is believed to be linked to a number of other recent car-jackings in the south Mississippi area involving similar vehicles, Milar said.

Picayune Police Chief Jim Luke asks people to be aware of their surroundings, Milar said.

If anyone has information about this case they can call Crime Stoppers at 601-798-CLUE (2583).