The Houston Police Department said at about 11 a.m., the victim was walking out of PLS Check Cashers on Aldine Bender near Airline Road.
HPD said the woman, who's in her 20s, was walking to her car when suddenly a man jumped out from a car a few spots over and asked her for the money she was holding.
Officials said the woman started running, and the man fired his gun at least twice, hitting her. Police said he then grabbed her money and got in a car where another man, who police identified as the getaway driver, was waiting nearby.
They drove off, but another customer called the police, HPD said.
Detectives were able to track down the car with both suspects several miles away. They were both arrested.
The woman was taken to the hospital in critical condition.
According to HPD crime data, 14 incidents occurred within a quarter-mile radius in the past month. That includes seven assaults.
"Pay attention to what kind of vehicles and if anybody is in the parking lot watching when you arrive," HPD Det. Samuel Spurlock said. "If you get the sense when you leave that you're being followed, take some odd turns and see if there's anybody that makes the turns with you."
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