CHEROKEE — A woman has been shot to death during an armed robbery in western North Carolina.

The shooting was reported shortly before 10 p.m. Sunday at a hotel across from Harrah's Cherokee Casino.

The victim's name has not been released.

Cherokee Tribal Police spokesman Ray Stamper says the suspect fled in a pickup truck. No arrests have been made.

Witnesses said the woman and her husband were in the parking lot when they were attacked by a gunman wearing a black mask and dark clothing. The suspect grabbed the woman's purse and then shot her.

No other information was immediately available.