RALEIGH - A North Carolina Highway Patrol trooper is in fair condition after being shot during a routine traffic stop in Durham.

Trooper Mike Potts had surgery Monday night at Duke University Hospital and is well enough to seen his family and receive Governor Pat McCrory after he delivered his first State of the State to the General Assembly.

Law enforcement is searching for a suspect describbed as a white man in his 20s, with short, blonde hair who last seen wearing a white t-shirt.

The shooting occurred around 6:15 p.m. on U.S. Highway 70 near Cheek Road about 6:15 p.m. After shooting the trooper, the suspect fled west on U.S. 70 in a black, late model Nissan Altima. That Altima was later found in the parking lot of the Los Comales restaurant, at 2103 N. Roxboro St. It’s not known if the suspect fled foot or in another vehicle.

Anyone who sees a man matching the description of the shooter should call *HP or 911 immediately.