Police activity outside South Carolina Federal Credit Union; Feb. 5, 2019 (Photo credit: Jim DuPlessis).

Police shot and injured a woman after she allegedly robbed a South Carolina Federal Credit Union branch Tuesday morning. Police are also searching for her male accomplice who escaped through the branch's back door.

South Carolina FCU closed the branch at 4503 Forest Drive in Columbia, S.C. as the robbery is under investigation.

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"All employees are safe," South Carolina FCU said in a social media post. "South Carolina Federal is currently working with local law enforcement and we appreciate your understanding in this difficult situation."

Police arrived at the scene about 9 a.m. when they saw a man and woman armed with pistols robbing the branch in which there were about seven or eight staff employees, according to the Forest Arces Police Department.

When the female suspect exited the branch's front door, police ordered her to show her hands but she ignored the commands and jumped into a vehicle.

Police attempted to stop her as she was driving from the branch parking lot. When she did not stop, a police officer fired two shots at the suspect who then crashed her vehicle into pickup truck in front of the branch, Forest Acres Police Chief Gene Sealy, said during a press conference posted by the WIS-TV news website. No police officers were injured.

The suspect was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the upper arm. She is expected to survive. Police recovered a backpack filled with cash from the Toyota Camry the suspect was driving that was reported to have been stolen from Georgia, Chief Sealy said.

Police are searching for the male suspect who escaped through a back door of the branch. He is described as a while male with a short beard who was wearing sunglasses during the robbery.

"Nobody in the (credit union) was hurt," Chief Sealy said. "They're shaken up obviously after people (were) pointing guns at them. We've got people taking to them right now."

Police did not know how many members were in the branch while the robbery took place.

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Peter Strozniak

Credit Union Times reporter covering credit union operations, fraud, M&As, leagues, business continuity, and breaking news.