A Charlotte North Carolina security officer had just left home early Friday on her way to work when she was ambushed by several armed men.

Officers said that she was walking to her patrol car parked along the street when she was attacked.

 “Two individuals came up, brandished a firearm, took her weapon, as well as a phone from her,” and then shot her several times, said Charlotte-Mecklenburg police Lt. Brad Koch.

Paramedics responded to the shooting call around 6.a.m. on Spring Garden Lane near MLK Middle School. The woman was rushed to Carolinas Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.

“It’s disappointing because there’s an initiative to rebrand our community in a positive manner,” neighbor John Wall said.

That initiative started in earnest almost a year and a half ago when police, led by chief Kerr Putney, announced a new partnership with Hidden Valley, promising to listen to the community and address their concerns.

Wall said he’s noticed that police have targeted the crime on neighboring Sugar Creek Road.

However, after Friday’s shooting, Koch said there is still work to do.

“Treating our community members like family members,” Koch said.  “You wouldn’t want your parents or your siblings to be victimized.”

Police have not made any arrests but set up a perimeter in the area and were searching for the shooters with K-9 units and a helicopter.

The security officer remains in critical condition.