Lt. Chris Beddingfield said last Monday around noon the victim had been shopping in the Dollar General and was walking back to her car when a man motioned her over to his car and asked her for directions.

The suspect acted as if he couldn&squo;t hear the woman when she was giving him directions and motioned for her to get closer to his car, Beddingfield said.

According to the police report, when the suspect got the woman close enough to his car, he pointed a handgun at her, grabbed her purse, pushed her to the ground and fled the scene.

The suspect has been described as a black male in his 20s, driving a dark green or black Nissan, possibly a Nissan Maxima, with a South Carolina license plate.

Lt. Beddingfield says his department is currently investigating and anyone with information on the suspect should call 828-859-5464.

The Columbus Police Department is also advising people to be cautious of their surroundings at all times.