CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Marking a grim milestone while also expressingheartfelt concern for the teller victim, State Employees' CreditUnion last week experienced what it said is the first injuryresulting from an armed robbery at one of its branches.

“We are all struggling with what happened and working to supportone of our employees, a single parent,” said Robert Hall, executivevice president.

The female teller was shot once in the abdomen during an armedrobbery April 1 at SECU's Airport Center Parkway Branch. Theteller, who was not identified early on in accordance with policeprocedure, remained in serious but stable condition at a Charlottehospital.

No mention was made of how much was taken in the robbery, butpolice said they are looking for three accomplices to the robberwho walked into the branch and ordered another teller to hand overthe cash. Agitated, the robber ended up shooting the teller victimwho was seated nearby, said Hall.

Witnesses reported the four, in a getaway car after theshooting, threw money out car windows as dye packs wereexploding.

Hall also pointed out that the robber started off by shootinginto the ceiling, short circuiting many of the procedures that CUsare trained to follow in such situations

The Airport branch armed robbery, said Hall, was the first inSECU's history in which an individual was injured. SECU has 217branches in its network. “We get about five robberies a year,” hesaid. “Unfortunately, they are on the increase” at banks and creditunions.

SECU, Hall said, is setting up a fund and making otherarrangements to
assist its employee.

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