Condition of wounded Kansas clerk upgraded to fair

This Kansas Highway Patrol photograph provided by the Ellsworth County, Kan., Sheriff's Office shows 28-year-old Alex Deaton. Deaton, accused of killing two in Mississippi, was arrested in Kansas after police ran a stolen SUV off the road in a fiery crash Wednesday, March 1, 2017. (Ellsworth County Sheriff's Office via the Kansas Highway Patrol via AP) (The Associated Press)

This photo provided by Via Christi Health shows convenience store clerk Riley Juel recuperating at the hospital in Wichita, Kan., Thursday, March 2, 2017, a day after being shot by a fugitive on a multi-state crime spree. Alex Deaton was arrested Wednesday near Wilson, Kan., suspected of killing two people in Mississippi and shooting another in New Mexico and Juel in Kansas before he was captured. (Maria Loving/Via Christi Health via AP) (The Associated Press)

The condition of a Kansas convenience store clerk has been upgraded after police say he was shot by a fugitive charged with two Mississippi killings.

A spokeswoman for Via Christi Hospital in Wichita says the man was in fair condition Thursday. He was listed in critical condition after being shot Wednesday in Pratt as officers searched for the suspect, 28-year-old Alex Deaton.

Police say Deaton stole a vehicle after shooting the clerk. Deaton was arrested when the vehicle crashed about 80 miles away.

The clerk's family has identified him as 19-year-old Riley Juel. His sister tells Wichita television station KSNW that her brother was able to call police and his mother after being wounded to tell them what happened.

Deaton also is suspected of killing his girlfriend and another woman in Mississippi, and kidnapping two hikers in New Mexico.