Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a fatal shooting in downtown Kitchener.

It happened at 11:20 a.m. Thursday at the Salvation Army’s New Beginnings building on King Street East.

One witness said a man approach another man sitting at a picnic table in the parking lot and shot him multiple times.

“They were loud, you could tell they were gunshots,” said another witness who did not want to be named. “Me and a couple of guys ran down the street and noticed somebody running away. One police officer started doing CPR on the guy that was laying on the bench.”

Police confirm the man died from multiple gunshot wounds.

His name has not yet been released.

“It was certainly a targeted shooting,” said Deputy Chief Kevin Chalk.

The gunman then fled the scene in a white 4-door Mercedes being driven by a second man.

“It’s kind of disturbing,” said Brian Zettler who lives in the area. “I heard this other car racing like a demon up on Duke Street going the wrong way.”

Officers spotted the vehicle driving towards Highway 401 and followed it as it entered the eastbound lanes, exiting at Highway 6 to Hamilton. The Mercedes drove a short distance before doing a U-turn to return to the 401.

The police car also did a U-turn as it continued the pursuit but ended up colliding with a passing pickup truck.

"There were minor injuries to the officer and the other individual involved," said Deputy Chief Chalk.

Police continued the pursuit, at times losing sight of the vehicle in traffic. It was last seen exiting at Trafalgar Road. Police say it may have been spotted in the area of Erin Mills Parkway.

“The vehicle was travelling at high rates of speed, in excess of 200 km/hr on Highway 401,” said OPP Sgt. Kerry Schmidt.

It's not known if the vehicle was stolen but police have determined the license plates did not belong to the Mercedes.

OPP, Halton and Peel Police are helping Waterloo Regional Police in their search for the suspect vehicle.

The area surrounding Pandora Avenue and King Street East remains closed to the public.

-- WIth reporting by Nicole Lampa, Daryl Morris and Krista Simpson