Vicksburg police are beginning to trace the steps of John Thomas to determine where he had been before he was shot and left in the parking lot of Blackburn Motors on North Frontage Road, Police Chief Walter Armstrong said.

Armstrong, however, would not discuss the details of the department’s progress in the probe to find Thomas’ car or the person who shot him.

“We are still looking for leads or tips on the car or a possible suspect,” he said.

“The car is the key right now,” he said, adding Thomas’ 2014 silver Honda Accord has been on the National Crime Information Computer, a nationwide law enforcement computer information system.

Thomas, 52, was discovered by a police officer on patrol in the area about 6:30 a.m. Sunday lying face down in the Blackburn Motors parking lot with multiple gunshot wounds. Armstrong said Thomas’ 2014 Honda Accord, tag number WBN 305, had been stolen. He said no weapons were found at the scene.

Thomas was taken to Merit Health River Region Medical Center and later transferred by helicopter to University of Mississippi Medical Center in Jackson, where he was listed in very critical condition.

He said police are not sure if the shooting is connected to Rafael McCloud, who escaped from the Warren County Jail Wednesday morning. McCloud was awaiting trial in the death of Sharen Wilson, who was killed June 28. He remains at-large.