HOUSTON -- A man has been accused of shooting a doctor outside a grocery store near the Texas Medical Center, KPRC Local 2 reported Friday.

Houston police said Anthony J. Bell, 40, shot Dr. Stephanie Wuest, 28, in the parking lot of a Kroger store on Old Spanish Trail and Cambridge Street at about 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Police got a call from a Harris County Precinct 6 deputy constable, who was working a second job as security at the grocery store, after he heard gunshots in the parking lot.

The deputy constable found a woman sitting in her car, shot multiple times.

Investigators said Bell approached Wuest in an apparent attempt to rob her after she shopped at the store. The two struggled at the driver's side door of her car, police said.

Bell pulled out a gun and shot Wuest several times, officials said.

Wuest is a doctor at Ben Taub Hospital and a first-year family medicine resident at Baylor College of Medicine.

Witnesses pointed out Bell to the deputy constable and he arrested him. Bell has been charged with attempted capital murder.

"She's a really, really nice lady," co-worker Rob Freundlich said. "Great to work with and friendly to everybody. It's a shame what's happened to her."

Other shoppers coming in and out of the store said it's scary that anybody can become a victim of crime, no matter where you go.

"It's just one of those things that makes me think that I have to be even more careful of my surroundings," said Alexis Hampton.

Some women said they are taking extra safety measures.

"I carry a knife anytime I'm walking at night. I keep it in my hand no matter what," said Hampton.

"I think I'll be talking to my husband to look into other ways to protect myself, like pepper spray and a Taser (gun)," Diana Simonetta said.

Wuest was rushed to Ben Taub Hospital in critical condition. She was alert and in stable condition Friday, after she underwent surgery.

Bell has been in legal trouble nearly 15 times before. He has prior convictions on charges of drug possession, auto theft and assault. He spent time in jail in November on misdemeanor charges.