FULTON, Mo. — Police urged anyone who came into contact with a man considered a person of interest in shootings that left three dead and two injured to get in touch, as the search today for the man stretched across central Missouri.

Police are hunting for Joshua William Maylee in the shooting deaths Wednesday of Jeffrey Werdehausen, 46, of Holts Summit, Mo., Eugene Pinet, 48, and Jackie Pinet, 57. Authorities said there were two separate crime scenes but did not release details.

Werdehausen's wife, 41-year-old Gina Werdehausen, also was shot and was in critical condition at University Hospital in Columbia.

Police warned Wednesday that anyone who has had "negative" contact with him to call police.

Sgt. Robert Bruchsaler of the Mid-Missouri Major Case Squad said Wednesday that the gunman used a high-powered rifle and a handgun. Bruchsaler said authorities believe the gunman acted alone.

Bruchsaler did not discuss a specific motive but said police believe the shootings were not random and that the victims were targeted. He said the reason they may been targeted was part of the investigation.

"They are known to this individual. The public can relax, he is not out there randomly shooting people," Bruchsaler said.