THOMASVILLE — A man who pointed a firearm at a woman in a Thomasville bank parking lot found himself on the other end of a gun barrel when the would-be victim responded in a like manner, according to reports.

The woman arrived at Suntrust Bank, 14 Williamsburg Ave., about 2 p.m. Friday. She entered the bank and withdrew $1,500 in cash.

“She walked from the bank, and as she was walking, she placed her wallet containing the $1,500 in her purse,” said Maj. Wade Glover, Thomasville Police Department public information officer.

When the woman reached her vehicle, she saw a man sitting in a small sliver SUV backed in next to her car.

“The suspect said, ‘You’re going to give me your purse,’ “ Glover said.

The woman did not understand what the man said and asked him to to repeat it.

“She realized that time he had a gun pointed at her,” Glover said.

The woman told the suspect she would not give him her purse.

“Do you want to get shot?” the suspect asked the woman.

“She got in her vehicle, retrieved her handgun and showed him her gun,” Glover said.

The suspect left the bank parking lot. The woman called 911 and talked to a dispatcher while she followed the silver SUV.

Glover said the woman lost sight of the SUV at the intersection of Pinetree Boulevard and Smith Avenue.

She looked for him on Smith and met police at Smith and Hansell Street.

The woman told police the man was calm, and it appeared the incident involving her was not his first.

The officer said it is obvious the suspect positioned his vehicle for a quick get-away. Glover said it also is obvious the incident was a setup.

The suspect’s SUV had a Florida license plate. The last three letters are JAG.

The suspect is described as black, unshaven, about 30, wearing a black ball cap, black shirt and glasses with silver frames.

Police are looking at bank surveillance video and questioning witnesses.

Anyone with information about the suspect is asked to call (229) 227-3302.

“Be mindful of your surroundings going into or out of a bank and at an ATM,” Glover said.

Senior reporter Patti Dozier can be reached at (229) 226-2400, ext. 1820