A murderer escaped from a state prison in Amarillo, Texas, early on Monday, scaling a fence and fleeing as a guard fired six shots at him, officials said.

Marvin Garcia, 34, was serving a 25-year sentence at the Neal Unit prison for a homicide committed in Harris County in 2008.

He scaled the fence at 3:40 a.m. CDT, leaving his jacket and blood on the fence. It was not clear whether the blood was the result of the correction officer's gunfire.

"I can't recall a specific escape at this facility," said Jason Clark, director of public information at the Texas Department of Criminal Justice.

Garcia has three identifying tattoos - a tear drop under his left eye, a beaded rope with a cross on his chest and a heart with flames on his arm.

Clark said that there are multiple agencies, as well as tracker dogs, hunting for Garcia.

Authorities do not know if Garcia is armed but he is considered dangerous.