Norwich — A 39-year-old man was fatally shot downtown Tuesday afternoon and police were searching for a suspect.

About 4:30 p.m., police responded to the Lake Street area for the report of a shooting. The victim was transported to Backus Hospital, where he died, city police said in an early Wednesday morning news release. Police did not release the victim's identity but said it appeared to be a targeted attack and they were investigating the incident as a homicide.

State police confirmed Tuesday evening they were participating in the search for a suspect involved in the shooting.

Lake Street in Norwich was entirely blocked off, and several cruisers and a police van remained on scene shortly before 9 p.m. Tuesday. Officers could be seen on the street with flashlights and taking photos. Residents who were not too close to the scene were allowed back into their residences but the street remained blocked off. There also was a section of police tape at a nearby property at Broad and Boswell streets.

Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to contact Detective Dennis Bialowas at (860) 886-5561, ext. 3157, or by email at dbialowas@cityofnorwich.org. Information also can be conveyed anonymously through the department's tip line, (860) 886-5561, ext. 4.

The investigation was ongoing.