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Spotsylvania authorities say a 43-year-old woman was shot in the parking lot of Michael's craft store Friday afternoon at about 2:30pm.

  Sheriff's Major Howard Smnith at a press conference this evening says the Spotsylvania woman was shot in the right side of her back. He says the bullet exited her body below her left breast. 

Smith says the woman was putting packages in the back of her Toytoa minivan when she was shot. She then let out a scream and another woman came to help her and then ran into the store and aksed someone to call 9-1-1.

The woman is conscious and was transported to Mary Washington Hospital. 

She has since been flown to Invoa Fairfax Hospital and is stable condition. They are not releasing her name.

  Authorities from the county sheriff's office, FBI, ATF and state police searched the cordoned off parking lot for any evidence.

  Smith would not comment on the evidence found at the scene other than the minivan itself. He says what was collected is being sent to the ATF lab in Maryland for comparison to a series of shootings in Montgomery County, Maryland that left five people dead.

  Authorities do not know what type of weapon was used and would not speculate on it until the ATF lab gets a look at fragments.

Smith discounted earlier reports of a siting of a light-colored, possibly grey or silver, new, mid-sized car, speeding away.

  Authorities area asking for the public's help, if anyone saw anything out of the ordinary in the area of Michael's and the mall at about 2:30 p.m.

  They can call crime solvers at 582-5822.

Date published: 10/4/2002

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