Gunfire Exchanged During Western Union Robbery Attempt

Wednesday marked the seventh time in 15 years that Sue Atkins -who in the past had been slashed with a butcher knife and beaten -confronted a robber.

Atkins suffered a graze gunshot wound to the left side of herforehead, Durham police said. The wound did not appear to belife-threatening, officers said.

Doctors were still operating on Atkins late Wednesday night atDuke University Hospital, a hospital spokeswoman said.

The robber approached Atkins shortly before 5 p.m., DurhamPolice Officer R.A. Freeman said. Officers said Atkins fired a shotbefore she was wounded, but officers did not know whether therobber was injured when he fled the Western Union store.

Anyone with information about the robbery isasked to call Det. V.P. Bynum at 560-4440 or CrimeStoppers at683-1200.